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St. John's Church 



HISTORY OF 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



NEWARK 



A Memorial of the Golden Jubilee of Its Consecration, 

in the Eighty-second Year of the Founding of 

the Parish, with a Retrospect of the 

Progress of Catholicity 

By 

PAUL V. FLYNN 



Approved 




^^^^^.i*— <^ 



Prbss of Thk Nkw Jkksky Trade Review 
45 Park Street, Newark 





*^' 


By PAl 

StAS of BErTHLESBM 

THE NE^ 


UBRARYcl CONGRESS 

DEC 28 1908 

Copyright. 1908 
7L V. FLYXX. P. G 

CorxciL. 4Tt>. K. OF 
- JERSEY TRADE 


. K. OF 

C. A>-D Editor of 
REVIEW 






A. M. D. G. 



To 

Mat\}tr of (gnJi, 

Through Whose Pleadings with 

®lfr iHoBt ^arr^h Iff art af J^Htta 

And the Merits of His Precious Blood so Many Graces and Blessings Have 
Been and Are Being Bestowed Upon His Church, Especially in the See of Newark, by 

**(§m 3ntkn m\\o Art ttt Sf^awn/* 

2IIji0 Mrmarial of the (^aihen Sabiltt of the CflotiBprraJion of Bt, Jolpt'a (Hiftsttit 

in the Elighty-second Year of the Founding of the Parish, with a Wi.tttOBpttt 

of the 3Pro0rPHS of ([Iatl|olirttij, IS, as a Tribute of Thanksgiving, 

on behalf of the Reverend Rector and the Devoted Laity, 

IHoBt l^umblg S^birat^b bg ®l|p Autl^nr 



i 



THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE 



The importance of the information contained in the 
pages of this work may be new to many persons, and 
hence may atone for imperfections in style. In what 
belongs to history, however, there can be no claim to 
originality; and the author who, in obedience to the 
wishes of the Rev. James P. Poels, the esteemed and 
beloved Rector of St. John's, has undertaken the work, 
has not created the facts. The duty of the historian 
is simply to narrate and not to create events. He 
should not fabricate history if he could. "The end 
would not justify the means." He has simply collated 
some of the many important historical events, placed 
them on record and endeavored to set them forth with 
all the interest that attaches to an important narra- 
tive, so thiit his co-religionists into whose possession 
the History of St. John's Church falls may be inspired 
by the labors, the privations, the sufferings, the 
glories and the triumphs of our Fathers in the Faith, 
to renew allefifiance and fealty to Holy Mother Church. 

With loving hearts let us cherish the memory of 
our predece^^sors in the faith, the faithful Priests and 
the loyal flocks, whose heroic labors in this vine- 
yard, whose privations and sacrifices made it possi- 
ble, after God, for us to rejoice exceedingly at the 
progress of Catholicity not alone in this Parish but 
throughout the State of New Jersey during the last 
eighty-two years. To those Heroes of the Cross, we 



lunc a (liitv to i)ei'form. Let us be ever mindful of 
what (hey have done; let us give practical evidence 
of our living faith in the "ronununion of Saints," and 
in our ])rayers reiiieniher the souls of the departed. 
Tills, indeed, is one of the most inii)ortant lessons 
which the (iolden Jubilee of the Consecration of St. 
John's Church would teach ; let us take it to our hearts 
and carry it into practice for the rest of our lives. 

The laity and Clergy of St. John's have ever stood 
shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart, laboring in 
unison for the Greater (Jlory of God; and the Parish 
was never more united than it is in our time. The 
Spiritual Fathers of the Parish and their faithful 
Assistants have ever applied their abilities with 
incredible zeal and ardor in the important work with 
which they were entrusted. The}^ have loved to do 
right for righteousness sake; never have truth and 
justice been sacrificed by them. Hence the laity can 
look back with pardonable pride upon the labors, and 
sacrifices, and triumphs of the beloved soggarths 
aroon, who have administered the affairs of the 
Parish and thank God for the blessings which He has 
vouchsafed through them. Their strength of mind 
and amiable qualities, together with the charms of 
their atTections, endeared them to the people and 
enabled them, in the order of Providence, to surmount 
difficulties and to brush aside the barriers of prejudice 
and intolerance. They have ever shown themselves 
the friends of the poor whom ^'ye shall always have 
with ye;" but, in maintaining the rights of mankind, 
they have neither trampled upon nor sacrificed the 
rights of Heaven, whose teachings they were divinely 
chosen to inculcate. 

History is the witness of the custom in every ag(^ 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

to pay homage to the man who was the first to break 
the chains that bound his native land, to the poet 
who has sung the praises of his country and made her 
illustrious, to the artist who has mirrored nature on 
canvas or copied her in marble and thereby won 
world-wide renown for his race; but it is not of these 
glories that we would now write. What signifies all 
the poetry, all the arts, and patriotism itself — all 
that is comprised in the word genius — when compared 
to the glories and triumphs of Christianity? And in 
these glories and triumphs St. John's has borne an 
important part. This age, more than any previous 
epoch, is characterized by its greater love of knowl- 
edge, its moderation, its liberality, its spirit of peace 
and humanity, no less than by the desire that justice 
and fair dealing should everywhere prevail ; but these 
attributes of the best civilization are not modern dis- 
coveries, like the inventions of the steam engine, the 
amazing telegraph and the appliances of the electric 
power. From the birth of the Christian Keligion 
the Catholic Church has been their most earnest 
champion, their most zealous promoter, defender and 
conservator ; and for nearly a century these lessons of 
duty, religion and love have been inculcated in the 
Sanctuary of Old St. John's. 

The author desires to express his appreciation of 
the kind friends who have aided him directly or 
indirectly in the preparation of this volume; and to 
one and all, on behalf of the Rector of St. John's 
and his flock, the warmest, heartfelt tlianks are 
extended. Especially do we api)reciato the more 
than kindness of the Rev. John J. Dunn, Diocesan 
Director of the Society for the Propagation of 
tlie Faith, No. 462 Madison avenue, New York, 



who so ♦i^oiierously permitted to be copied from Arch- 
bishop Farley's History of St. Patrick's Cathedral 
the portraits of His Holiness, Pope Pius VII., His 
Eminence, Cardinal McCloskej, the Most Rev. Arch- 
bishoi)s Iliii^hes, Corrigan and Farley and the Right 
Rev. lUshops Coucanen, Connelly and Dubois. 

The excellent portrait of the Sovereign Pontiff, 
Pope Pius X., gloriously reigning, which the author 
is ])rivileged to publish, is a copy of an original in 
possession of John B. Oelkers, a member of St. Mary's 
(German) l»arish— "The First Daughter" of St. 
John's. Mr. Oelkers is President of the German 
Roman Catholic Central Verein of the United States, 
some one hundred of Avhose members were graciously 
accorded an audience by the Pope on May 22d, 1908, 
when they went on a pilgrimage to the Holy See. 
The Sovereign Pontiff on that occasion imparted the 
Papal Blessing, not only to the pilgrims but all other 
members of The Catholic Central Verein participated 
in this Apostolic favor. His Holiness also conferred 
signal honor upon Mr. Oelkers in recognition of his 
services to the Church and fealty to the Holy See. 



Feast of the Immacllate Conception 
Decembeb 8th, 1908. 



CONTENTS 



Preface ----------_v 

Index of Names --------- xvii 

CHAPTER I 

Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration 

OF St. John's — Rev. James A. Lundy's Sermon - 1 

CHAPTER n 
The Pastor's Greeting to His Guests - _ _ - 7 

CHAPTER HI 

Solemn Vesper Service — Sermon by the Rev. Bernard 

Moran Bogan --------- 9 

CHAPTER IV 

Congratulations to the People of the Parish by the 

Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor — Confirmation - - 14 

"IN MEMORIAM" 

Solemn Requiem Mass for the Souls of the Departed 

Clergy and Laity of the Parish _ . _ - 15 

CHAPTER V 
The Art of St. John's Church Described - . _ ig 

CHAP'l ER VI 

The See of New York, embracing the State of New 
York and nearly all of New Jkuskv erkcted hv Piu.s 
VII., April 8th, 1808 ------- 25 



IX 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER VII 

St. John's Parish founded in 1S26 by Rev. Gregory Bryan 

Pardow --_. 31 

CHAPTER VIII 

Very Rev. Dr." Power, V. G., Dedicated St. John's Church 

IN 1828 -------... 36 

CHAPTER IX 

Father Moran's Administration — St. John's Circulating 
Library, founded in 1835, anted.\ting the Newark 
Libr-\ry Association thirteen years — CoNSEaL\TioN of 
St. John's by Bishop Bayley in May, 1858 - - 40 

CHAPTER X 
The Chimes of St. John's ------- 48 

CHAPTER XI 

Father Mor-\n's Obsequies — Solemn Requiem Mass Cele- 
br.\ted by Re\'. Bern\rd J. McQuAiD (now the Ven- 
ER.\BLE Bishop of Rochester) — Bishop Bayley delivers 
THE Eulogy and pronounces the -\bsolution - - 51 

CHAPTER XII 

Very Rev. Patrick Moran's Last Will and Testament — 

Some Unique Provisions 55 

CHAPTER XIII 

"Father Moran's Portrait" — A Pen Pictltie Drawn by a 

Veteran Newark Journalist ------ 59 

CHAPTER XIV 

Phrenology a False Science— A Discussion with Prof. 

Wells, of Fowler & Well.s ------ 64 

CHAPTER XV 
Father Moran's Successors ------ 67 

CHAPTER XVI 
Heroic Tre.\tment Exemplified by Father Killeen - - 69 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER XVII 
The Best Route to San Francisco for a man who had 

NEGLECTED TO APPROACH THE TRIBUNAL OF PeNANCE FOR 
SEVERAL YEARS --------- 71 

CHAPTER XVIII 

An Irish Immigrant's Sacrifices to hear Mass — An 

Object Lesson of Living Faith _ _ _ _ 74 

CHAPTER XIX 

Rev. Father Poel's Good Work — The Generous Reception 
which the Parishioners extended — Priest and People 
united as of one heart and one mind - - - 76 

CHAPTER XX 

The Parochial Societies and Names of Officers — St. 
John's Sacred Heart and Holy Name SoaETY — The 

influence which THE MOST HUMBLE MEMBER MIGHT 

exercise exemplified — Bishop Wigger's Antidote for 
Blasphemy, Profanity, etc. ------ 78 

CHAPTER XXI 

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph — Their 

effective work in the Parish ----- 84 

CHAPTER XXII 

Laborers sent out from St. John's Parish to work in 

the Vineyard --------- 87 



THREE PASTORS OF ST. JOHN'S, verses by "Celt" - 90 

CHAPTER XXIII 

The "New Light Movement" — A Proselytising Scheme 
established in Ireland in the days of the Famine 
and when Typhus Fever and Asiatic Cholera raged 
IN the land — The proselytisers' estimate of the 
Value of a Soul ..----- 91 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER XXIV 



Catholic Education Considered — The British Act of 
Parliament proscribing Catholic Education still on 
THE Statute Book — Consuming zeal of the Catholic 
Church in the cause of the education of youth 
— What the Catholics of the United States are 
doing to promote the cause of Christian Education 
— From 30,000 to 35,000 members of Religious Orders, 
Congregations and Communities engaged as Teachers 



94 



CHAPTER XXV 

Most Remarkable Speech by Dr. Woodrow Wilson, 
President of Princeton University — His Tremendous 
Indictment against the non-Catholic educational 

METHODS IN EVERY GRADE OF SCHOOL FROM THE GrAMMAR 

to the University -------- 



98 



CHAPTER XXVI 

St. John's Eldest Daughter — St. Mary's Parish, founded 
BY Rev. Nicholas Balleis, O. S. B. — Church wrecked 
BY AN Orange Mob, the Statue of the Blessed Virgin 
beheaded and the hands chopped off — retributive 
Justice ---------- 



103 



CHAPTER XXVII 



Orangemen not Loyal Amerkan Citizens — They swear 

FEALTY TO A FOREIGN POTENTATE — GrOSS INSULT OFFERED 

TO American Citizens by Orangemen in 1861 



109 



CHAPTER XXVni 

St. Patrick's, now the Pro-Cathedral Parish, the second 
offspring of St. John's — Rev. Louis Dominic Senez 
the first Pastor — His Successors - - - - 111 



CHAPTER XXIX 



Mcr. George H. Doane's Monument unveiled — Erected by 
THE Citizens of Newark regardless of Religious or 
Racial dii-ferences ------- 



118 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER XXX 
The Story of the Conversion to Catholicity of George 

HOBART DOANE — HiS LeTTER TO BiSHOP BaYLEY WRITTEN 

Nov. 13th, 1856, herein published for the first time 121 

CHAPTER XXXI 

The First Bishop of Newark — A Beautiful Tribute to 
the Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, written by 
G. Wisner Thorne, now a Vestryman in Trinity 
Protestant Episcopal Church ----- 140 

CHAPTER XXXn 

The Second Bishop of Newark, Right Rev. Michael 
Augustine Corrigan — Archbishop of New York — His 
Death — Tribute by Archbishop Ryan _ - _ 145 

CHAPTER XXXHI 

Rt. Rev. Winand Wigger, D. D., Consecrated Oct. 18th, 
1881 — Grand outpouring of the Laity to pay homage 
TO their Bishop — A Thorn in His Mitre — The New 
Cathedral — Bishop Wigger's Death - _ _ - 149 

CHAPTER XXXIV 

Rt. Rev. John Joseph O'Connor, D. D., Consecrated July 
25th, 1901 — His Career as Professor in Seton Hall 
Seminary, Vicar General, Rector of St. Joseph's, 
Newark, and Administrator of the Diocese — Cele- 
bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Arrival 
and Installation of the First Bishop of the See 
OF Newark — The Speeches at the Banquets — Cele- 
bration by the Laity — Addresses made by former U. S. 
Senator James Smith, Jr., and Hon. William J. 
Kearns — Bishop O'Connor's Oration - - - - 159 

CHAPTER XXXV 

A Celebrated Case — Confession declared to be "A Perpet- 
ual AND Inviolable Secrecy" — Mayor (afterwards 
Governor) DeWitt. Clinton's decision sustaining 
the Rev. Anthony Kohlmann, S. J., Administrator 
of the New York See, who declined to disclose the 
source from which the restitution had been made, 

BECAUSE whatever KNOWLKIHIE THE PrIEST POSSESSED, HE 

HAD RECEIVED THROUGH THE CONFKSSION AL - - - 169 



xni 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

Rapid Progress of Catholicitv — When the New York 
See, comprising the State of New York and the 
greater part of New Jersey, was created in 1808, 

THERE were ONLY THREE PrIESTS — In 1826, THERE WERE 

ONLY 8 Churches, 18 Priests and 185,000 Souls in the 
Diocese — The Present Catholic Population in the 
same territory approximates 4,000,000, with over 3,000 
Priests — Statistics of the Sees of Newark and 
Trenton — Religious Orders, Congregations and Com- 
munities — The Catholic Population of the United 
States 17,000,000 -------- 



174 



CHAPTER XXXVn 

Catholicity and Science considered — Knowledge favor- 
able to the Catholic Religion — Testimony of Protes- 
tants — Catholicism and Catholicity not synonomous 
TERMS — "The Profane Novelty of Words" as urged 
by St. Paul upon Timothy, his Disciple, should be 

avoided ---------- 



183 



CHAPTER XXXVni 

Catholicity Essentially Liberal — Testimony of Baron 
MacCauley and Sir Archibald Allison 



191 



CHAPTER XXXIX 
Distinguished Lawyers in the early days before Newark 

BECAME A CITY IN 1836 — SOME BECAME FAMO,US IN StATE 

AND Nation — Frederick T, Frelinghuysen, Secretary 
OF State in President Chester A. Arthur's Adminis- 
tration entered a vigorous protest against the un- 
warranted CONFISCATION OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE AT 

Rome — American property rights' must be conserved 
AT home and abroad — Theodore Runyon a Brigadier- 
General IN the Civil War. Chancellor of New Jer- 
sey, and First American Ambassador to the Court of 
Berlin — Cortlandt Parker became an eminent member 
of the bar and was appointed minister to germany 
BY President Grant at the Request of Senator 
Frelinghuysen, but he refused to accept — William K. 
McDonald and others . - - - - - 



195 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER XL 

The Early Settlers in Newark and environment — Their 
Descendants are, many of them, successful men in 

OUR TIME ---------- 200 

CHAPTER XLI 

Influx of Irish immigrants in the 40's — The Columbian 
Fire Company whose membership was confined to 
"healthy, athletic and sober young men" — The Irish 
potent factors in the Civil War — Lewis C. Grover's 

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BERNARD M. ShANLEY AND FORMER 

Senator James Smith, Jr. ----- - 206 

CHAPTER XLII 
Religious Discussions — Catholics Clever Disputants - 209 

CHAPTER XLIII 

History of the Cross in Newark from a Lecture by the 

LATE Dr. James Elliott - - - - _ 210 

CHAPTER XLIV 

First Italian Mission in Newark — St. John's School 
Hall converted into a Temporary Chapel by Bishop 
Wigger — Rapid Growth of the Italian Population — 
In: 1890 there were less than 1600 in the entire 
Diocese of Newark, but now they number over 40,000 
IN THE City of Newark alone ----- gig 



Index of Names Appearing in this Volume 



PAGE 

Adamses, The - - - - 203 

Alison, Sir Archibald 192 

Albert Edward, King of Great Britain 109 

Armstrong, Amzi - - 195 

Arthur, President Chester A. 196 

Atkinson, Samuel C. 125 

Babcock, Frederick 33 

Bacon, Rt. Rev. Bishop - 51 

Bacon, Rev, Father 68 

Bapst, S. J., Rev, Father 106 

Barrett, John 54 

Barrett, Col. Michael T. 204 

Barrett, Miss Susan 82 

Bayley, Most Rev. James Roosevelt, Archbishop op Baltimore, 
AND First Bishop of Newark, 40, 47, 48, 51, 53, 55, 115, 122, 

123, 124, 125, 126, 140, 141, 142, 153, 161, 166, 174, 180, 198, 208 

Bayley, Grace (Mrs. B. M. Shanley) 208 

Bedine, Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil - 115 

Bellais, O. S. B., Rev. Nicholas - - 103, 104, 105, 106, 176 

Benedict, O. S. B., Rev. Father 68 

Bernard, O. S. B., Rev. Father 68 

Bestick, Timothy 36. 54, 202. 209 

BoGAN, Rev. Bernard Moran 9, 88, 161 

BOGAN, Charles - - - - - - - 54, 161, 203, 206 

BoYLRs, The . . 203 

Bradley, Joseph P., Associate Justice U. S. Supreme Court - - 195 

Brady, Hon. James T. 208 

Brannons, The 208 

Brannan, Michael - - 203 

Brannigan, John 204. 209 

Brannon, Thomas 202 

Breslins, The 203 

Brown, Rev. Patrick 217 

Brush, John - 204 

Brute, Rt. Rev. Bishop - . . - r>j> 

Burgos, Rev. Valentine - 68 

Buttlers, The 203 

Byrne^ Hon. Joseph M. - - - - lis 

Byrne, Very Riov. Patrick 51. 55, 5S 68 



xvu 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



PAGE 

Callan, Rev. James 159 

Callan, Kev. John 68, 176 

C\LLAHA.\, Rev. Johx - - - 88 

Callehy, James 204 

Campbell, John 203 

Campbell, Owen 204 

Cassehlv, Eugene, United States Senator 208 

Carury, O. p.. Rev. Thomas 27 

Carlen, James 209 

Carlen, Loighlin 209 

Carrs. Tiik - 203 

Carroll, Most Rev. Archbishop of Baltimore - - - - 26 

Carroll. Rev. Eugene P. 3 

Carnahan, Rev. James 199 

Casted, Rev. Father 68 

Catalani, Mrs. Charles A. 203 

Cauvin, Rev. Anthony 176 

Charles, C. P., Rev. Father 3 

Cheverus, Rt. Rev. John, Bishop of Boston 27 

Clarks, The 206 

Clark, Thomas - - 202 

Clarke, William Campbell 118 

Cleveland, President Groveb 197 

Clinton, Gov. DeWitt 160. 171 

Cody, Very Rev. Dean P.vtrick 2, 8. 62 

Concanen. O. p., Rt. Rev. Luke, Bishop of New York - - - 25 

CoNDiT, Joel W, 33 

Congregation of the Sistebs of St. Joseph - - - 84, 85, 86 

Connelly, O. P., Rt. Rev. John, Bishop of New York - - 27, 28 

Connelly, James F. 88 

Connelly, Rev. John - - 88 

Con ROY, Rev. Father - - 68 

CoRBiTT, John 205 

Corbitt, Frank 204 

CoRBirT, Chief of Police Michael 205 

CoRBiTT, William 205 

CoRRiGAN, Rev. George W. 6S. 87 

CoRRiG.\N, Very Rev. James II. 87. 88 

CoRRiGAN, Most Rev. Michael A., Archbishop of New York, and 
Second Bishop of Newark, 23, 87, 140, 145, 147, 148, 152, 156. 

159. 160. 204 

CoBRiGAN, Thomas 204 

Cox. P. G. 204 

CoYLE, James 204 

CoYLE, Patrick - - 204 

Crassett, Rev. Father - 210 

Crocketts. The 202 

Crowley, Dennis 54 

Curoe, Rev. John 176 

Dallas, George M. 208 

D'Aquilla. Rev. Father 204 

Dalton, Rev. Jamej F. 142 

Dana. John Cotton 118 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



PAGE 

Db Concillo, Rev. Jandarius 154, 155 

Deegan^ Miss Maegaeet ' - - - 82 

De GoesbrianTj Rt. Rev. Bishop 174 

Degnan, Rp:v. E. A. 3 

Deaney, Michael 205 

Deldynes^ S. J., Rev. Father - - 113 

Db Maupas^ Rt. Rev. Bishop 84 

Dennys, The 202 

DevinEj Mbs. Aethdr 209 

Dbvinb^ John 204 

Devine Michael - - - -. 204 

Devine, Tbeence 204 

Di Pietro, Cardinal 25 

DOANE, Mgr. George H., 47, 51, 115, 116, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123, 

124, 125, 126, 138, 139, 140, 150, 161, 163 
DoANE, Rt. Rev. G. W., Protestant Episcopal Bishop of New 

Jersey, 124, 125, 139 

DoDD, Hon. Amzi, Vice-Chancellor 195 

Donahue, Rev. Francis - - - 68 

DonnellYj John H. - 201 

Donnelly, Michael 201 

Donnelly, Thomas J. 201 

Doolby, Rev. John A. 68 

DooNER, Jambs 204 

DoREMUS, Hon. Henry M. - 118 

Dougherty, James 204 

Doughertys, The 206 

Doyle, John T. 208 

Doyle, M, J. 203 

DowD, Peter 204 

Downs, William 203 

Dubois, Rt. Rev. John, Bishop of New York - - 28, 29, 36, 53 

Duffy, Nicholas 203 

Dunn, Dennis 203 

Dunn, M. 204 

Dunn, Thomas 203 

Dunn, William 204 

DuRNiNG, Charles 32, 54, 88, 202, 209 

DuRNiNG, Rev. Daniel G. 23. 88 

DuRNiNG, Hugh 204 

DuRNiNG, James - - 204 

DuRNiNG, John C. 32. 54. 88 

DuRNiNG, John 204 

DURNING, Michael 204 

DwYER, John 207 

Ernest, O. S, B., Rev. Father 2 

Egan, Rev. Andrew M. 161 

Elliott, Daniel 202. 203 

Elliott, Dr. James, 31, 36, 37, 38, 39, 43, 54, 111. 117. 126. 206, 

210. 212. 2iri 

Elliott, MicitaioIj ......... ;?7, 3s 

Emmktt, Uoiuoht - - 92. 2011 

Emmiott, Thomas Addison 171 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



KxoLisH, John 
lO.NGLiSH. Thomas 



I'AGE 
204 
204 



- 204, 
123, 140. 152, 156, 160, 

- 119, 



Fan. NINO. IlEv. Dr. J. A. 50, 

Falcon 10, Diomede, the Apostolic Delegate 

Faklev, Most Rev. John M., Archbishop of New York - - 28. 

Farley, Rev. Matthew J. 2, 9, 

Farlev, Bernard J. 

Farrell, Rev. Father - - 

Farrell, John ------ 

Farrells, The 

Farrell, Thomas 

Farrelly, Patrick 

Feick, Charles A. 

Fenwick, S. J., Rev. Father - - - 

Fidelis, O. S. B., Rev. Father - - - - .3, 68. 78, 

FixNEGANS, The 

FiNNEGAN, James 

Finnegan, Michael 

Fitz Gerald, The 

FiTZ Gerald, Maurice 32, 

FiTZPATKiCK, Aeneas 

Flood, Andrew ----- 
Flynn, Rt. Rev. Joseph M. - 11; 

Flynn, Paul V. - - - 

Francis, O. M. F., Rev. Father 

Fra.nzelin, Cardinal - . . 

Frelinghuysen. Frederick - - 

Frelinghuysen, Frederick T., U. S. Secretary of State, 195, 197, 

Fontbonne, Mother St. John 

FouRNiER, Mother St. John 

F'romeget, Anslem J. - 32. 

Gaffney, O. p.. Very Rev. Francis A. 

Galligan, Bernard - - - - 

Gamboisville, Rev. Louis 

Gath, Rev. Father - . - - 

Gardiner, a Lawyer 

Garland, Robert - - . . 

Garland, Thomas - - - 202. 

Garrigan, Edward 

Gaul, Miss Katherine R. 

Geacen, M. 

Gf.bvais, Rev. J. H. 51. 

Geyebstr-knger. O. S. B., Rev. Charles 

Gibbons, James, Cardinal-Archbishop of Baltimore - - 140. 

GiFFORD, Archer 33, 

Gifford, Charles L. C. - 
GiFFoRD, Philip A.- 
Gillespie, John 32, 

(;<irman, Michael 

Grace. Mrs. 

(iuvcE. Peter - . . - - 
(Jbafton, John 



68 

161 

161 

88 

82 

68 

82 

203 

200 

164 

200 

27 

82 

209 

204 

54 

203 

203 

161 

209 

164 

147 

9 

153 

195 

199 

85 

86 

111 



204 

67 

68 

171 

203 

203 

7 

82 

203 

58 

106 

145 

195 

195 

10.- 

202 

203 

209 

206 

209 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



PAGE 

Grant^ President Ulysses S. 195, 198, 199 

Geover, Lewis C. 195, 207 

Hagan, William J. 82 

Halsthad^ Oliver^ Vice-Chancellor 195 

Hamilton^ Very Rev. Mr. (Protestant Episcopal) - - - 88 

Hamilton, George 88 

Hamilton, Col. William H. 88 

Hargan^ James 204 

Harrigan, William 54 

Haskins^ Mrs. Molly R. 197 

Hattersly, Prof. William F. 203 

Hattersly, Mrs. William F. 203 

Hawthorne, John 202 

Hay, Dr. 135 

Hays, Jabez 195 

Hays, The 203 

Heatherton, Patrick -------- 54, 204 

Henry, Hon. Thomas S. 200 

Herard, Rev. Matthew - - - -> - - - -89 

Hickey, Rev. Father 51 

HiCKEY, John - 54 

Hickspiel, S. J., Rev. Father 78 

Hoffman, Recorder Josiah Ogden 169 

HOGAN, Rev. John - - 51, 114, 115 

Holland, John 203 

Holland, Rev. Michael J. 203 

Hopkins, Bernard 203 

Hopkins, Dr, - - - - - 129 

HopPEN, John Francis 203 

FlORNBLOWER, CHIEF JUSTICE 63, 195, 208 

Howell, Rev. Isaac P. 116, 176 

Howell, T. P. 207 

Hughes, Most Rev. John, Archbishop of New York, 29, 30, 37, 

38, 44, 45, 88, 104, 111, 112, 113, 146, 174 

Hyde, Marcus F. 139 

Hylands, The - - - 203 

Jenkinson, Richard C. US 

Jones, Walter, U. S. Adgt.-General 199 

Kalisch, Samuel 118, 119 

Kavanagh, John - - 54 

Kearney, Bernard 43, 54, 111, 204. 209 

Kearney, John - - - - - 204 

Kearney, Michael 203 

Kearney, Patrick 203 

Kearns, Hon. Wm. J. 163 

Keating, James 16H 

Kehoe, John F. 118. 203 

Kehoe, T'etiou 203 

Kelly, Rt. Rev. Mgr. Charles J. 161. 164 

Kelly, Rev. John 176 

Kelly, John ----...-.- w^, 202 



Keiixan, John 204 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



PAGE 

KiLLEKX, Rev. Thomas M. 50, 67. 60. 71 

KlNGSLAND. IlKNKY W. 33 

Kinney, William B. 118 

KiKWAN, RlCIIAKD 204 

KOHLMANN, S. J., Very Rev. Anthony - - 26, 27, 169, 170. 171 

KrsTEUs, Rev. Louis 2 

Laing, Mu. (Scottish Presbyterian) 188 

Learv, Peter J. 37 

Ledwith, David .......... 43 

Ledwith, John 208, 21)0 

Ledwith, Judge Michael J. 54, 205, 208 

Ledwiths, The - - 205 

Leddy, Bernard 204 

Leo.nard, Rev. Patrick 67 

Leucht, Rabbi 118, 119 

Lincoln, I'resident Abraham 30 

Loughlin, Right Rev. John 174 

Loughlin, Thomas 204 

Louis, O. S. B., Rev. Father 68 

Lounsbury, Charles 82 

LcDDEN, Rt. Rev. Patrick A., Bishop of Syracuse - - - 159 

LuNDY, Rev. James P. ii, 9. 88 

Madden, Rev. M. 51 3 76 

Mauon, Milo 129 

Malo.ney, Mrs E. 3 

Malo.nky, Thomas 164 

Malou, S. J., Rbv. Father 27 

Markchal, Archbishop of Baltimore .--..- 28 

Mape, Patrick 32 

Marshall, Rev. Charles F. 68 

Matthews, James J. 204 

Matthews, Michael - 204 

Matthews, Patrick 203 

Mkaney, Editor 197 

Medaille, Rev. J. P. 84 

MuLiA.N, Willi A.M 204 

Melody, Rev. D. W. 2 

MiNTAGH, JA.MES 203 

Mintagh, Robert 203 

MOEHLER, Mary 83 

MooNEY, Jr., John J. 7. 44 

MOONEY, Sr., John J. 44 

MooNKY, Thomas 208 

Moore, Francis 82 

Moore, Nicholas Ill, 204 

MORAN, Rev. James 47, 55. 57, 67, 68 

MoR.\N, Very Rev. Patrick, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 37, 38, 40, 44, 

45. 46, 48, 49. 52, 54, 61, 67, 90, 96, 104, 111, 112, 113, 117, 176, 201 

MoRAN, William 203 

Morrises, The 206 

Morton. Frederic A. 107 

MULLVILLE, S. 208 



xxu 



PAGE 

MuLVEY, Michael 54, 61 

MuLVET, Prof. Maetin 61 

MuLLENj Michael J. 59, 61, 158 

Mdllin, Robert 203 

Murray^ John 54 

Murphy^ O. O. C, Rev, A. M. 68 

Murphy, Francis D. 204 

Murphy, Miss Mary 82 

Murphy, Patrick 32 

Murphys, The 203 

McCarthy, Rev. Patrick 176 

MacCauley, Baron 189, 191 

McCree, Mrs. 209 

McColgan, John 203 

McCormack, Rev. Dr. Joseph, P. M, A. 68 

McCloskey, John., Cardinal-Archbishop of New York, 27, 51, 

145, 146, 152, 153, 176 

McCloskey, Rev. Father 68 

McCluskey, S. J., Rev. Thomas J., President of St. Francis 

Xavier's College, New York 101 

McConnell, John 203 

McConnell, Hugh 203 

McDonald, James C. 195, 199 

McDonald, William K. 195 199 

McDonnell, Rt. Rev. Charles E. 159, 161 

McDonough, Rev. James 176 

McDermott, James 203 

McDbvitt, John 204 

McEnroe, Christopher 203 

McEnroe, Patrick 203 

McFarlands, The 206 

McPaul, Rt. Rev. Dr. J. A. - - - - 156, 159, 161, 180, 182 

McGahan, Rev. Patrick 68 

McGlynn, Rev. Dr. 51 

McGowAN, Richard 54 

McGoverns, The 203 

McGrath, Mrs. 204 

McGuire, Rev. Father 68 

McGuire, James 164 

McKiNNEY, John 54 

McManus, Rev. Dr. Michael A. 2, 28, 50 

McMaster, James A. 154 

McNuLTY, William, Very Rev. Dean 152, 161 

McQuaid, Rt. Rev. Bernard J., Bishop of Rochester, 47, 51, 115, 

123, 140, 152. 153, 159. 161, 176 

Napoleon I 26 

Nardiello, Rev. Joseph M. 2, 68 

Neil, John 203 

Nerney, B. 204 

Norris, Mr. Ill 

Nugent, Ciiuistophku 206. 207 

Nugent, Jambs i>06 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



TAGK 

Nugent. James R., City Counsel 206 

Nugent, John 42. 43 

Neumann, Rt. Rev. Bishop of Philadelphia 86 

Newman, Cakuinal- Archbishop 129, 135 

O'CONNBLL, Daniel 208 

O'Connor, Charles 208 

O'Connor, Rt. Rev. John J., Fourth Bishop of Newauk, 2, 14. 62. 

119, 153, 159, 160, 161. 164 

O'Connor, Rev. Joseph - 2 

O'Connor, Very Rev. Martin 88 

O'Connor, Rev. Maurice P. 2, 7, 8, 14 

O'Connor, Michael 202 

O'Connor. Thomas 207 

O'Donnell, John 205 

Oelkers. John B. vill 

OTarrell, Ut. Rev. Michael J. 152, 180 

OGorman, Dr. George Ill 

O Gorman, Dr. William - - - 54, 58 

Oldham, Tho.mas 203 

O'Rourke, Christopher 32 

O'RouRKE, Jeremiah 118, 204 

Osborne, Rev. Louis Shreve (Trinity Episcopal Church) - 118, 119 

Pardow, Very Rev. Gregory B. - - - - 31, 37, 39, 90 

[•ardue, Timothy 204 

Parker, Hon. Cortlandt 177. 198 

Parker, Hon. Richard Wayne, M. C. 119 

Pennington, A. C. M. 195. 208 

Pennington, Jabez P. 34, 35 

Pennington, Governor William 195, 208 

Peppin. Mr. 200 

Peppin, Eliza (a sla\-e) 200 

Perotti. Rev. Joseph M, 3. 217 

Peters, Mrs. 124 

Pkraengel, O. S. B., Rt. Rev. Hilary 27 

Philips, Michael 204 

Plunkett, Edward 204 

Poels, Rev. Dr. H. A. 2 

Poels, Rev. James P., - - 3, 7, 14, 50, 62, 68, 76. 90 

Pope Pius VII 25, 26, 27, 28 

Pope Pius IX 115, 174 

Pope Pius X vlll 

Power, Very Rev. John 28, 33, 36 

QuiNN, Edward C. 95, 202 

QuiNN, Francis 206 

QuiNN, John 205 

QuiNN, Miles 205 

QiMNN, Miles F. 7. 82. 119 

QuiNN, Rev. Thomas 176 

Rafferty, Rev. P. 39 

Rankin, Rev. Mr. (Presbyterian) 74 

Reed. John ----- 203 

Reed, Patrick 203 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



PAGE 

Regan^ Patrick 74 

Regan^ Thomas J. 74 

Reilly^ Charles 204 

Reilly^ James 118 

Reilly, Farrell - - 82 

ReillYj Robert - 202 

Richmond, Dr. John B. 7 

Richmond, Rev. William J. 2, 288 

Rogers, Rev. John 176 

Rolando, Rev. Father 68 

Roosevelt, President Theodore 145 

RosATi, Rt. Rev. Bishop of St, Louis 85 

RoDRKE, Christopher 32, 202 

Rowan, Lord Hamilton 202 

Rowan, Martin M. 32, 202 

RowE, Michael 161, 203 

Rdnyon, Mrs. Clementine B. ------- - 198 

Runyon, Theodore, Ambassador to the Court of Berlin - 197, 198 

Runyon, Frederick Theodore 198 

Runyon, Julia B. 197 

Runyon, Helen Louise - . . 197 

Runyon, L. Chauncey 198 

Russell, Bernard 204 

Rutherford, John 33 

Rutten, Rev. John - 9 

Ryan, John 204 

Ryan, Most Rev. P. J., Archbishop of Philadelphia - - 145, 146 

Ryan, Rt. Rev. Bishop of Limerick 52 

Ryan, Patrick 204 

Ryder, Rev. Roderick 68 

Salt, Very Rev. William P. 155, 160 

Sampson, William 171 

Sanders, Arthur 202 

Sanders, William 202 

Savage, John 48, 50 

Sayre, Caleb - 33 

Sayre, Moses 213 

Scollard, Rev. John 176 

Scott, Edward 48 

Scotts, The 203 

Schneider, Rev. Louis 67 

Seefrage, Robert 202 

Senez, Rev. Louis Dominic - 51, 68, 88, 112, 113, 114, 115, 176 

Seton, Mother E. A. 144 

Siianahan, Rev. John SS 

Shanley, Bernard M. ------ - 206, 207. 208 

Shanley, John F. 118, 164. 206 

Shan ley, Michael 206 

Sharkey, Miss Anna L. 82 

Sharkey, Annette - S.T 

Sheldon, Smith - 33 

Sheim'aud. V. G., Rt. Rev. John A. 140. 161. 164 

Sherlock, John 32. 202. 200 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



PAGE 

Sisters of Charity 114, llG, 217 

Sisters op St. Dominic of Perpetual Help 150 

Smith, Andukw ^04 

Smith, Anthony - 204 

Smith. Hanford .-..--.... 33 

Smith, Hon. James, Jr. - 111. 118. 119, 12G. 161, 162. 1G4. 206. 208 

Smith, Mrs. James, Jr. 200 

Smith, James, Sr. 206 

SouRiN, S. J., Rev. E. I. 127 

Stansbury, Daniel 33 

Starrs, Edward 204 

Stauus, Willi a.m 204 

St. Mary's Orphan Asylum 113 

St. Michael's Hospital - - - 50, 117 

Taafe, James 118 

Teeling, Miss Katherine M. 3 

Thorne, G. Wisner 140 

TiGHE, Rev. John 88 

TissoT, S. J., Rev. Father 78 

TuBBERTY, Rev, Father 68 

Tyler, Robert 208 

Vache, Jean 32, 200, 201 

Van Bdren, James 208 

Venuta, Rev. Father 123 

ViTALi, Rev. Dr. Alberigo 216 

Waldron, Edward M. 74 

Waldron, Samuel P. 74 

Wallace, Rev. Thomas E. - - 68 

Walsh, Dr. James J. 97 

Ward, Dr. Leslie D. 118 

Ward, Gov. Marcus L. 205 

Ward, Gen. Thomas Ill 

Warren, John 204 

Wells, of Fowler & Wells 64 

Whelan, Rev. Isaac P. 68, 115, 110 

Whelan, Captain - - - 116 

Whelan. Mrs. Mary 116 

White, Rev. Michael J. 68 

Whitehead, John W. 42, 195 

WiGOER, Rt. Rev. Winand Michael, Third Bishop of Newark, 

71, 149. 151, 152. 153, 155, 156, 157. 158, 159, 160, 166 

Wilberforce, Mr. 135 

Williams, Eno.s 33 

Wilkinson, E. Alvah 197 

Wilson, Dr. Woodrow, President of Princeton University - 98. 99 

WISE.MAN, Cardinal-Archbishop of West.minster - - - - 135 

Wiseman, Rev. Dr. 68 

Wright, Col. Edward H. 43, 208 

Wright, Slnat(»r, William -.-..- 43, 208 

Zuccaralli, Rev. James 217 



List of Illustrations 



FACING PAGES 

St. John's Church (exterior view) Frontispiece*^ 

His Holiness, Pope Pius X 1 

Right Rev. John J, O'Connor, D.D. 8 

Rev, James P. Poels 14^ 

Interior View of St. John's (double page) 18-19^ 

Window of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour 22 »^ 

Window of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mother - - - 24' 

His Holiness^ Pope Pius VII 26 ^ 

Main Altar and Altars of the Blessed Virgin and St, Joseph - 30' 
Altar in Vestry, which was the Main Altar in Church before 

the extensions of the Sacred Edifice ----- 34 

Baptismal Font built by Father Moran - - - - - 40 

Hammer used by Father Moran when he constructed the Altars 44-' 

Rev. Maurice P. O'Connor 48 

Rev. Michael A. McManus, LL.D. 50 

Rev. Joseph M. Nardiello 54' 

Rev. Matthew J. Farley 60- 

Rev. William J. Richmond 64. 

Rev. Louis Kusters 68" 

Rev. James P. Lundy 74' 

Rev. Bernard Moran Bogan 80 - 

Most Rev. John M. Farley, D. D. 86^ 

Right Rev. Richard Luke Concanen, D.D. - - - - - 94 

Right Rev. John Connolly, D.D. ------- 102. 

Right Rev. John J. Dubois, D.D. 110- 

MosT Rev. John Hughes, D.D. 120 

His Eminence, John^ Cardinal McCloskey 130 • 

Most Rev. James Roosevelt Baylby, D.D. 140. 

Most Rev. Michael Augustine Corrigan, D.D. . . - . 144 

Right Rev. Winand Michael Wigqbr, D.D, 148 

Paul V. Flynn 154 

Miles F. Quinn 102 ,■ 

Edward Garrigan 168 ^ 

Dr. James Elliott - . . . 182 

Rev. Daniel (J. Durning 194 

Bernard Kearney . - 'joo 

St. John's Rectory 2()(» 

Convent of Sisters of St. Josbiph 210 

St. Joii.n's Parochial School 214 



1 




^iy^^ 




HISTORY OF 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



CHAPTER I 

Golden Jubilee of the Consecration 

Sunday, May 10th, 1908, will ever be regarded as a 
Red Letter Day in the annals of Catholicity in the 
Diocese of Newark, because of the dual event — the 
Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of St. John's 
Churoh, in Mulberry street, Newark, and the Eigiity- 
second year of the founding of the l*arisli. Then and 
now! What remarkable changes have taken place! 
How wonderful the progress made! How important 
the results achieved! 

St. John's Church never presented a more gala 
appearance. From the towers and apex of the 
sacred edifice floated the Stars and Stripes. The 
Papal Colors, Irish flags and Dutch flags, hiul also 
a prominent part in tlie beautiful decorations. Upon 
the front were draped Am^erican flags. The l*^ipal 
Coat of Arms was hung over th{^ main i)()rtal of (lie 
edifice and on the left of the entrance were i\\e flgur(\s 
^a82()," and on the right of entrance *M!)()S"— 
representing respectively the year of the organization 
of t.lu^ Parisli and that of the CoIcUmi fInbiU'e of the 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 



Consecration of the Church. The Rectory, the 
Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the School 
buildings were also beautifully decorated. Many of 
the homes of parishioners, not only in the vicinity of 
the Church but throughout the Parish, were decorated 
with American flags. The Celebrant of the Jubilee 
Mass, the Officiating Priest at Vespers and the 
Preachers were natives of St. John's Parish and had 
the regenerating water of Baptism poured upon their 
heads at the Baptismal Font which had been 
designed and constructed by Father 3Ioran. The 
Deacon of the Mass was also baptize<i at this Funt. 

Solemn High Mass, coram Pontifice, was celebrated 
by the Rev. Matthew J. Farley, of St. Joseph's, Jersey 
City: assisted by Rev. William J. Richmond, Rector 
of Our Lady of G<x>d Counsel, Newark, as Deacon; 
Rev. Louis Kusters, of the Dioc-ese of Seattle, 
Sub-Deacon, and the Very Rev. Father Ernest, O. S. 
B., of St. Mary's Abbey. Master of Ceremonies. 
Right Rev. John J. O'Connor, D. D.. Bishop of 
Newark, occupied the Throne, and he was attended 
by Rev. Maurice P. O'Connor, Rector of Holy Cross, 
Harrison, as Arch-Priest: Rev. Joseph M. Xardiello, 
M. R., Rector of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield, and 
Rev. Michael A. McManus, LL. D., Rector of St. 
Aloysius, Newark, were Deacons of Honor; and Rev. 
Joseph O'Connor, of the Immaculate Conception 
Senunary, Seton Hall, was Assistant Master of 
Ceremonies. In the Sanctuary were Very Rev. 
Dean Cody, Rector of St. James ; Very Rev. Francis 
A. Gaffney. O. P., S. T. L., Rector of St. Antoninus; 
Rev. H. A. PoeLs, D. D., of the Catholic University, 
Washington, D. C. ; Rev. J. W. Melody, D. D., of the 
Catholic University, Washington : Rev. Eugene P. 



I 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Carroll, Rector of St. Bridget's, Newark; Rev. Joseph 
M. Perotti, Rector of St. Lucy's, Newark; Rev. E. A. 
Degnan, of St. Columba's, Newark; Rev. Father 
Fidelis, O. S. B. ; Rev. Father Charles, C. P., and 
Rev. James P. Poels, the Rector of St. John's. The 
musical programme was rendered by the regular 
Choir of St. John's assisted by the Mazzi Orchestra; 
and the organist was Miss Katherine M. Teeling. The 
programme was as follows: 

Prelude Lauda Zion Lambilotte 

Kyrie, Gloria, Credo and Agnus Dei Capocci 

Veni Creator Decis Monti, with violin and organ, 

sung by Mrs. E. Maloney 

Offertory Ave Maria — Gounod, with flute obligato, 

sung by Mrs. E. Maloney 

Benedictus and Sanctus Giorza's Fifth Mass 

PosTLUDE March Militaire Schubert 

FATHER LUNDY^S SERMON. 

The sermion was preached by Rev. James A. Lundy, 
of St. Patrick's, Elizabeth. He pictured the social 
world as it existed in the time of the Rome of 
Augustus — the highest period of her martial splendor : 
^^Her standards were floating over qn&tj land and 
the universe in reverential awe acknowledged her its 
mistress. From every point of the compass luxuries 
and wealth were pouring in. But her greatness was 
not confined to material grandeur or military prowess. 
The intellectual refinement of Greece had come to 
polish the rugged vigor of the Latin mind. Every 
department of learning was glorified by names that 
even today seem immortal. The poetry of Horace and 
Virgil was the theme of every tongue. Plato an<l 
AriNlotle, the twin giants in the world of philosophy^ 
had brought forth their nuissive conceptions, that 
after two thousand yc^ars rank among our choicest 
treasures. Men then living had their youthful ears 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

pauipereil by the sonorous majesty of Cieero's 
eloquence. In a word, material and intellectual 
grreatness had attained a supremacy never before 
rivahnl. But, besides the woi^ld of clay and mind 
which belongs to time, there is another and a higher, 
born for eternity — the world of soul and morals. 
Let US see how it stood there. 

''Everywhere except among the Jewish people, who 
had God's Revelation to guide them, uncertainty and 
the grossest errors prevailed in regard to truths most 
important to man, and which form the ba>sis of 
intellectual and moral life. Only one nation adored 
the true God; in every other part of the world men 
bowed down in adoration before the stars, plants, 
animals — and rendered homage to the gods of wood 
and stone they had fa;shioned with their own hands. 
Even Greece and Rome, famous for their art and 
literature, cultured and skilled in learning, had their 
idols of gold and silver and wood and stone; they 
\\orshipped even their vices, for every crime had its 
own god. And we know that public and private 
morals were in keeping with such a wx)rship. Man, 
forgetting the dignity of his origin and the grandeur 
of his destiny, lowered him^^elf to the level of the 
brute, or, in the delirium of his pride, raised himself 
to the rank of the gods. Morality having no 
foundation, men lived shameless lives in imitation of 
the gods themselves. Separated from the one true 
God, man and woman had lost the appreciation of 
their natural dignity, and had fallen under the 
de^ipotic empire of their senses. They had made 
themselves after the image of the gods created by 
their own passions. From their brow had fallen the 
crown of glory which the Creator had placed there; 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



blinded by the mists of passion, they had seated 
themselves in the dust, forgetting what they were, 
forgetting what they should be ; they ceased to realize 
their true worth. And hence arose in Pagan antiquity 
man's universal contempt for his fellow being and 
himself. Men were so accustomed to the cruel and 
depraved morality of the day that neither philosophy 
nor history uttered a protest against these things that 
made man lower than the beasts. We need only read 
the history of those ages to see how awful and how 
utter was the moral corruption of the world; the 
bitterness of desolation and despair overshadowed all. 
"When then Christ came unto men and founded 
His Church there was a new factor for the world 
to deal with. He was presented to the minds and 
hearts of men as a question they had to answer — 
a problem they had to solve. They had either to 
accept what Christ brought or refuse it; they had 
either to embrace Christ or reject Him — but they 
could not be indifferent to Him; they could not 
ignore His claims. His Church was built upon a 
foundation which tlie world laugiied at and scorned, 
based upon tlie doctrine that God, the Infinite, 
Omnipotent, Eternal God, had become man and had 
suffered death to redeem a sinful race. And this 
doctrine was to be taught; this Church was to be 
spread throughout the Avorld by twelve jvoor nuMi, 
ignorant of letters and unskilled in art. Well might 
the foolish world mock the idea that anything gi-eat 
or lasting could come of such procedure! Well might 
the wise ones of earth shrug their shoulders and smile 
at the very thought of these men going forth in (heir 
ignorance and crudeness to preach a new doctrine, a 
new code of morality to the Pagan world; a doctrine 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

so strau^^e, a code of morals so utterly oi)})os(m1 to all 
the systems of relij^iou then in demand. 15ut nothinjj 
daunted, these noble souls went bravely on their 
mission; they knew that the Gospel they j)reached 
was the truth, they were certain (iod was their j^uide 
— and if (Iod was with them who could be against 
them? And so, little by little, slowly and j^radually, 
as the tiny shoot l»reaks forth throuiiii the earth in 
Springtime did the infant Church begin to show its 
power to the world. Soon Paganism realized that 
this new teaching must be reckoneil with — that it 
could not be lauglied and smiled away.-' 

The Kight Kev. Ordinary of the Diocese, in honor 
of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the 
Consecration of the (^'hurch, granted an Indulgence 
of fifty days to all the faithful present at the Solemn 
High Mass, and imparted the Papal Blessing. 




CHAPTER II 

The Pastor's Greeting 

xlfter Divine Senace, dinner was serYed in the 
rectory — the Eight Rev. Bishop, the Very Reverend 
and Reverend Clergy being the guests of Rev. James 
P. Poels, Pastor of St. John's. The laity was 
represented by former Trustee John B. Richmond, the 
present Trustees, Miles F. Quinn and Edward 
Garrigan, the Parochial Master of Ceremonies, John 
J. Mooney, and the author. Rev. Maurice P. 
O'Connor was a splendid Toast Master. Father Poels 
in extending "The Pastor's Greeting to His Guests'' 
spoke substantially as follows : 

"Gentlemen : I consider it my very pleasant duty 
to thank you for your presence here to-day. This 
being Sunday, you have made considerable sacrifice 
to leave your own Parishes, in order to celebrate this 
event with the people of St. John's; and we appreciate 
your presence, therefore, all the more. This is, indeed, 
a Red Letter Day in the history of this Parish, the 
Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of our (^hurch 
in the Eighty-second year of the Parish ; and, if this is 
a proud day for the Mother Parish of the Diocese, it 
is, I think, a most i)ardonabl(* ])ride. The mustard 
seed sown here has indcHHl grown to luagniliciMit pro- 
portions, and the small acorn planted Ium-c^ by the 
pioneer Catholics of the city has beconu^ a sturdy oak 
— spreading its branches far and wide, not only over 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



the Diocese of Newark, but over the entire State of 
New Jersey. We are to-day reaping the fruits of 
the sacrifices made in the early days by those ])ioneers, 
Tricsts and laity, who founded tliis I'arish and 
Church — who laid its foundation deep, solid and well 
and cemented it with a strong unwavering faith that 
overcame many and great obstacles in those early 
days. This, then, is truly a day of joy for the Mother 
Parish ; and indeed the entire Diocese may well share 
in this Jubilee, for at the present day the Mother is 
surrounded on all sides by her fair and beautiful 
Daughters, bejeweled with their magnificent educa- 
tional and charitable institutions. In looking back 
over the history of the Catholic Church in the State 
of New Jersey since the formation of this Parish to 
the present day, we surely find many reasons for 
Thanksgiving. May I then ask you. Gentlemen, to 
raise your glass with me and drink to the future 
prosperity and success of the Diocese of Newark." 

Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor replied for the Diocese 
of Newark. He congratulated the Pastor and people 
upon the success of the Parish, and paid a high tribute 
to the earnestness and zeal of Father Poels. The 
Jubilee of the Consecration brought joy to the parish- 
ioners of St. John's; but it also caused the hearts of 
their coreligionists throughout the Diocese to rejoice 
and fcx^l glad. 

The Venerable Dean Cody said that he and Father 
Moran were intimate friends; and he related many 
interesting reminiscences of the fourth l*astor of the 
Parish. He extended the warmest congratulations to 
Father Poels; and in this he was heartily seconded 
by Rev. Dr. McManus, Rev. Maurice P. O'Connor 
and all the other Priests. 




^/yu^^^^^ ^ 



CHAPTER 111 

Vesper Service 



At the Solemn Vespers in the evening, the Kev. 
James A. Lundy officiated, assisted by the Eev. Father 
Francis, O. F. M., of Paterson, and the Kev. John 
Rutten, and Rev. Matthew J. Farley as Master of 
Ceremonies. Gregorian Psalms were sung alternately 
by the Choir and The Sacred Heart and Holy Name 
Society, and the Young Ladies Sodality; the 
Salutaris and Tantum Ergo — Gregorian — Choir 
and Congregation; Te Deum (O Holy God); Priest 
March — Mendelssohn. The sermon was preached by 
the Rev. Bernard Moran Bogan, Rector of St. Mary's, 
Plainfield, his text being: "And behold I am with 
you until the consummation of ages." 

FATHER BOGAN^S SERMON. 

"All during this happy day," said Father Bogan, 
"your minds have been going back over many a year 
that stretches far in remotest memory through the 
life of the Parish now joyously celebrating the 
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Consecration of the 
Churcli. Distant friends have come to be your guests 
to-day, and to them you proudly ])()int to the n^stora- 
tion of this historic structure whose foundation 
was laid eighty-one years ago. On this brilliant 
occasion you fittingly close with all the ceremony of 
religion, a day of solc^un and joyous festivity. Your 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHSS CHURCH 



worthy I*ast(H- lias ;u(('i)ttMl in your iianu' tlu* con- 
gratulations of our Uisliop and liis fed low- Priests, and 
he is justly proud of tlu^ splendor seen in the restora- 
tion of dear old St. John's. How naturally the mind 
goes back through those golden years, recalling the 
trials and the triumphs of our holy religion. To our 
present generation, the generation of the former 
seems lost in the glory of the latter, for our Faith has 
triumphed. From fifty years back, it is but a span to 
the century mark of history. AVhat is a hundred 
years of passing in America? A hundrcMl 3'(\irs ago 
saw us scattered along the Coast line thirteen insig- 
nificant Colonies; a hundred years, and we assist at 
the formation of every known form of government in 
the Western Hemisphere; and across the ocean, the 
hand of history leads us through varied national 
changes. Republics following upon the heels of 
Empires, Kingdoms yielding to the claims of disputing 
dynasties, human monuments (builded to defy the 
intrigues of men) crumbling at the touch of time. 
\yhat means the memory of nineteen hundred years? 
It means that the line of historic search leads us 
through deeds of war. Why, to follow the line of 
historic research, deeds of war, the decimation of 
nations, and the scourges of ambition lead us through 
the vanishing centuries. 

''But in it all and through it all, one Throne 
survives — the Throne of the Fisherman. The Church 
of Jesus Christ has alone come through the desolation, 
and the fire, and the blood-shed of persecutions, of 
calumny, and all the destructive powers arrayed 
against her. ( 'rushed, buffeted and beaten, she walks 
as Queen among men, lifting the prostrate forms and 
rebuilding society from the wrecks that lay strewn 



10 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

along the shores of time. Men, in many instances the 
unconscious emissaries of the evil one, have bent 
their energies to destroy her influence; yet perhaps 
the saddest page in her history records not the 
malevolence of her enemies but the treason of her 
friends. It has never been the custom of the Church 
to hide her shame from the scrutiny of her enemies. 
Christ Himself, in appointing His human representa- 
tives, bestowed no angelic qualities of immunity, but 
left them free to reject Him or to remain with Him 
loyal through their life, that merit would be the 
result of their allegiance. If among the legion of the 
faithful representatives of Christianity some have 
been faithless to the trust imposed upon them, it 
but emphasizes the claim of Divinity as the ground- 
plan of Christianity. For, if Governments, planned 
by the wisest statesmen, to stand the test of time, 
have yielded to the changes of custom and the varied 
claims of succeeding generations, the one Society that 
has grown with the years and has arisen from every 
form of persecution stronger and more valiant must 
indeed have the principle of Divine strength as the 
only hope of its preservation and ultimate perpetuity. 
Looking back through the centuries, tlie student of 
history following the bent of unprejudiced research 
sees in the Catholic Church — and in the Catholic 
Cliurcli alonc^ — the evident work of God. Naturally 
proud of the record of Catliolicity, we are pronc^ to 
place our confidence for the future in the record of 
the i)ast. 

"And yet, dear Bn^liren, tlie more we know of our 
Holy Faith, the narrower becomes llu^ road tlial 
leads to our personal eternal destiny. The Cluircli of 
Christ lias come, il is true, ilii'ouuli tlie ('(Midiries, 



11 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

beariiij; iu Irt liaiid sacraiueutal .str('n<»tli for our 
weakness, restorative for the day of our failure, and 
tlie Woivl of (rod as tlie liope for our forji:iveness. 
With thes(» Divine institutions meeting; us at every 
crisis of our j)il<irinia<::e, they are of themselves power- 
less to help us — for neither Pope nor I*riest can save 
the soul that does not bend its ener<!:}' to accept the 
protfered hand of sacramental helpfulness. What 
mean the mysteries of the Sacraments to the 
instructed Catholic l)ut (Jod's divine condescension 
in extending the value of Calvary to evc^rv time and 
to ptH)ple of every class and clime? Wliat means 
the Sacrifice of the Mass but the presence of the 
unbloody yet real Sacrifice of Calvary- for the 
children of men? And yet, for its application and 
its worth to the individual, personal, earnest co- 
operation is an essential requisite. And why, dear 
brethren, do these sacred mysteries appeal so readily 
to the Catholic mind, yet cast no ray of hope within 
the darkened heart of him who rejects the Son of 
God in this continued scheme of our redemption? 
Our holy Faith I The Faith that hears the echo of 
the commission of Christ to His Apostles. The T^aith 
that sees through nineteen centuries the upper room 
whence came on the first Pentecost morning, Andrew 
and James, and John and the other Apostles, to carry 
the message of the Eternal Father transmitted 
through His Son to all the willing children of the 
human race. How naturally our hearts go out in 
gratitude for this priceless uupurchasable gift of 
Faith. It is the one note that sounds clwir and 
heavenly in all the harmony of this happy Golden 
Jubilee of the Consecration of St. John's. 

"Fifty years, oh, what glory for the cause of truth, 



12 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

have come with them to this day of joyous 
culmination ! Whilst our hearts go out in gratitude, 
we face the future in trustful dependence upon the 
grace of God for the happy fulfillment of our 
Apostolic work. Whilst you are not commissioned, 
as were the Apostles, to preach the Word of God on 
every street corner, yet by a more convincing 
eloquence yours it is, my dear brethren, yours the 
solemn duty to preach by a higher standard of moral 
living that Christ actuates your endeavors, still lives 
in this year of grace, fulfilling His words of 
encouragement: ^Not by your own virtue, not by the 
influence you may accidentally exercise among your 
fellows, nay, not even by 3^our natural virtues are 
you to lead men to Me, but because I am with you.' 
This is the secret of this celebration, and this the 
Divine Call that sounds with no uncertain note in 
the conscience of every Catholic: 'By the grace of 
God, I am what I am.' May this lieritage, transmitted 
to our own generation with sucli splendid results, 
be passed to our successors with a prayer of humble 
confidence in Him from Whom all graces flow. The 
long night has passed. The gloom of apprehension 
has faded before the rising sun of American fairness. 
See to it, my brethren, that you so present the cause 
we celebrate to-night that Christian credentials will 
convince the lionest in(|uirer who will see in your lives 
that Clirist has kept liis word: 'Lo, I am with you' 
and none other 'until the consummation of ages.' " 



13 



CHAPTER IV 
Congratulations by Bishop O'Connor 

T\w cliiklreii of the Parish wlio liad received their 
First Holy Communion at the eight o'clock Mass on 
Sunday, May 10th, were Confirmed on Monday even- 
ing, the 11th. After administering the Sacrament 
of Confirmation the Right Rev. Bishop, in a few but 
impressive words, extended ''congratulations to the 
people of the Parish on the Golden Jubilee of the 
Consecration of the Church, and to the children that 
it is the occasion of their receiving the Sacrament of 
Confirmation;'' and he added: ''Our Churches are 
not meeting houses. The Catholic idea of a Church is 
that it is the House of God, the dwelling place of 
Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. This is why we 
respect and reverence it and why the devout are 
willing to sacrifice their worldly means to decorate 
and beautify it. It is gratifying to see the 
transformation effected in old St. John's, through 
the zeal of Father Poels and the co-operation of his 
parishioners. Our duty in reflation to our Churches 
is to love and to frequent them. The one leads to the 
other. The Catholic idea of a Church is a place open 
all da,^ to the people going in and out to visit the 
Blessed Sacrament, to pray before the altar of Our 
Lady, to reverence the Patron Saints. We should not 
be content witli the Sunday Mass. Love your Church 



14 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

and try to familiarize yourselves with it and with 
every part and purpose of it — and especially with 
Him who dwells in the Tabernacle of the Altar — and 
thus make some returns to God for His goodness in 
condescending to dwell in the midst of His people." 



e^ 



M Mtmatmm. 

*^1^emember me, ye at least my friends, because 
the hand of the Lord has touched me." 

2Iljf aoula of t\\t Jifpartf b QIU rgg ani lag mwnbrra nf 
li|0 Parifil} Witt vtmtmhtxih in a Hperial tnauner nit 
Mnnjiag morntttg. Mag lltt;. ^oUmn iSriiutrm iQaBB 
waH rrlrbralpD for tl|f rrpnae of tl?f bouIh of H^obp 
faltijfitl {}txatB uiI|o l)ab fouyl)! llje yooh fiijlit aitft 
ptxntxMXih unto tl|( ml). QH^r rrUbrant uiaa ?Kru. Jlamra 
^. ^orls; mitli ?8ro. 9iOuta HCuatura aa Uraron. Sro. 
Joafpl) flrrotti aa S'ub-Uearon. anii Eru, 3Fatljpr 3Fl^rUB. 
(!). 0. IB., fHaatrr of Olrrrinonif a. 

"// is a holy and a 'wholesome thought to pray for 
the dead that they may be loosed from their sins. " 



15 



CHAPTER V 

The Art of St. John's 

That the tirst substantial stoue church erected by 
the Catholics in New Jersey should possess features 
of artistic construction comparable with the best 
tradition of Christian Architecture, is due to the fact 
that tlie early constructors \yere careful to plan walls 
of sufficient strength to conform with the later 
improyements, which were inaugurated by the Key. 
Patrick Moran. The original Church was in the 
pointed style, but far less elaborate and chaste, than 
is the present beautiful facade. In architectural art, 
St. John's Church stands as a monument to its con- 
structor, who will eyer be remembered with gratitude 
by all who study the beautiful lines and chaste 
simplicity of the structure and the stately symmetry 
of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral. 

The material of the facade of St. John's is a brown 
stone of enduring quality and the style of archi- 
tecture is a pure type of the English Norman perpen- 
dicular, such as may be seen in the ]>eautiful 
CathiHlral of York in England. The facade is 
severely plain ; ornate details are not attemptcnl, and 
eyer}' line attt^ts utility; each tower is surmounted 
by four graceful pinnacles; the profile of the 
mouldings of the piers and shafts is shaped with due 
regard to the eye of the spectator; the moulds of the 
weatherings, with their simjde indication of use and 



16 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



entire absence of attempt at ornamentation, conform 
in every way to the chaste simplicity of the structure. 
The walls are surmounted with a parapet in the 
Norman style, which is a somewhat unique feature to 
find introduced into American practice at the time 
this construction was planned. The soundest prin- 
ciples of utility in construction give rise at times to 
the most beautiful architectural form, and when we 
consider that this Church was the first substantial 
edifice erected by the Catholics in this State — 
implying by this statement the sacrifices made by the 
devout early w^orshippers to acquire their limited 
funds — it is a pleasure to find that St. John's still 
maintains its character, when even contrasted with 
those other and more splendid edifices which have 
been erected since its inception. The architect, 
Father Moran, knowing the limitations of modern 
art, did not attempt to rival the ancient structures 
of Europe. Familiar though he was with their won- 
drous detail, he still knew that only ages of faith and 
consecrated devotion to an ideal purpose could rear 
those wondrous temples which, with all our modern 
ingenuity, we could not only not construct, but owing 
to their time-defying buttresses we might have serious 
difficulty in destroying. That their lessons were not 
lost on the designer of St. John's Church and St. 
Patrick's Pro-Cathedral is shown in the simplicity of 
the one and the stately, impressive and spreading lines 
of the other. While St. John's facade is in the type 
of Norman perpendicular architecture, it possesses 
interiorally a type that is not Gothic but rather 
Classic, and the combination of these two types in a 
structure was due evidently to the limitations impostMl 
upon the designer by conditions over which he hjul 



17 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 

no control. The Gothic type of architectui*e, daring 
and impressive, depending upon lightness and height 
for its ellects, would require more funds than the 
architect had at his disposal, while the Classic type, 
requiring massive construction, would not serve so 
well a Christian temple. 

The architect happily united to an artistic tem- 
perament a most practical mind, and the combination 
of the two types formed a most pleasing interior 
which all who have seen St. John's Church will agree 
was the most proper arrangement. The rectangular 
interior is relieved by the beautiful Gothic 
windows, and the delicate curve of the ceiling removes 
all aspect of squareness. Three recessed Gothic arches 
enclose the altars, joined to one another by delicately 
carved and pinnacled shafts. The three arches are 
fringed with trefoils and the recessed main arch is 
filled with admirably executed carving. The painting 
of the "Ascension of Our Blessed Lord" is framed by 
this delicate and rare work of art. The carving is 
exquisite; it stands in high relief and the details are 
most delicately rendered. Leaves, intertwined with 
grapes, stand out in golden lustre, and in front adoring 
cherub heads guard the picture silently. A cluster 
of marbleized columns complete the frame. The figure 
of our Ascending Lord is modeled from Raphael's 
gi-eat "Transfiguration," and the Apostles have that 
dramatic agitation so powerfully rendered by Titian 
in his "Assumption." 

The :\rain Altar is unique in its details. It might 
seem at first sight to be chiselled from Cai'rara 
marble, but a close inspection reveals that it is con- 
structed throughout of rare wood. The design 
represents the idea of Father Moran in the facade of 



18 




INTERIOR VIEW OF 




GUN'S CHURCH 



\ 



i 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

the Church, as he would have had it, had the edifice 
ever been extended — the two Main Towers in Norman 
perpendicular, and the two side towers recalling the 
ancient Eound Towers of Ireland — all recessed and 
interlaced most delicately and standing as a monu- 
ment to the mind that conceived the modeling and 
the hand that formed its lines. Beneath the Statues 
of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph are Altars of 
the same neat design, forming in all a conception of 
artistic merit that is not surpassed by any other 
Church in Newark. To design this construction would 
be well worth a life time of effort, but the little 
picture of Father Moran's hammer tells us that not 
only design but construction as well was the province 
of this energetic and gifted Pastor. 

Above the doors leading to the Vestry there are two 
paintings on canvas' — one the "Apparition of our Lord 
to Blessed Margaret Mary," and the other containing 
the "Story of the Rosary." It will occur to many that 
the "dog" with flaming torch in his mouth, has a 
unique relation to the subject of the Rosary picture; 
but in art the Ordier of St. Dominick for a special 
reason has been pictured as black and white "dogs," 
and the torch represents the light of faith which the 
Dominicans carried in their combat with heresy. 

The decoration of the Church is ornate, although 
the coloring is so chaste and subdued that all striking 
effects are avoided ; and Uw 'uiUh'\ov liarmoni/.es in 
every detail. Although the rib work is imitation, the 
light and shade effects are liandled masterly, and tlie 
whole stands out as though raised. Th(^ color scIhmiu^ 
is French — creams and r(»(ls pi'cMlominating witli gold. 
The Frieze is an imitation of Thirl eenth C<^ntury 
inlaid Mosaic. TIk^ centre j)ie('es and corners are of 



19 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



plastic construction in bronze. The walls are a red- 
dish butr. Medallion paintings of Saints ornament 
the spaces between the window arches — to the right or 
(lospel side the women saints whom the Church has 
so highly honored for their character or sanctity, 
and to the left those great men who have interpreted 
the history of religion. The positions of honor are 
wisely assigned to the great Patron and Patroness 
of the Irish race. St. Bridget in her dress as Abbess, 
holding her staff as a sign of her office, indicates the 
higii i)osition which women have always held in the 
Catholic Church, for in the early history of the Church 
many of those saintly women possessed a temporal 
power, exceeded only by that power exercised by a 
Bishop. St. Patrick, in his green robes, with his 
Crozier, attests his position as head of the Church in 
Ireland. Following these in their respective order, 
comes St. Rose of Lima, crowned with flowers, and 
contemplating the image of the Crucified Saviour. 
She unites the gentleness of American girlhood to the 
power of the great St. Augustine who fills the space 
opposite, holding his inspired pen. St. Catharine of 
Alexandria, wearing her royal crown and bearing 
in her hands the palm and the sword, faces the great 
Latin Father, St. Ambrose; St. Agnes bearing her 
lamb, her hair falling beautifully over her shoulders, 
looks upward with a reverent expression; while oppo- 
site is the great St. Anthony of Padua. St. Teresa, in 
her nun's habit, stands with the gentle St. Francis of 
Assissium; and the medallions are completed by the 
two great exemplars of music-worship and prayer — 
St. Cecelia with Ik^* organ, and King David with his 
harp. The medallions are treated in the modern 
adaptations of the Old Masters; the colors are very 
rich and harmonious. 



20 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

The ceiling picture represents the "Vision of St. 
John the Beloved." The painting is in the style of 
Western art; and in the centre of the ceiling are four 
adoring Cherubs. By far the finest of the Sanctuary 
statuary is that of St. John who stands with the open 
Gospel and the Chalice from which a serpent is seen 
to issue. St. Isidore relates that at Eome an attempt 
was made to poison St. John by pouring the poison 
into the Chalice. The Saint made the sign of the 
cross over the poisoned wine and the serpent came 
forth. He drank of the Sacramental Cup and admin- 
istered it also to the communicants, without injurious 
effects either to himself or to them. 

In its beautiful stained glass windows, St. John's 
Church is not excelled by any other Church in Newark. 
We have here splendid examples of what the ancient 
workers named "quarry work" — a pattern worked in 
diamond-shaped panels. The windows are in gris- 
aille and color, and the figures and canopies are of 
most exquisite mediaeval form. A student of ancient 
art can study these windows to great advantage. On 
one of the South windows there is a glory of gold 
formed by cherub figures in the tracery lights, that is 
unique and brilliant in its execution. A series of 
small medallions, executed in white and brown, orna- 
ment the borders of the windows of Our Divine 
Saviour and His Blessed Mother. They are quite small, 
scarcely six inches in diameter; they are genii ike in 
the delicacy of their etching. They tell the history 
of the lives of the Blessed A^irgin IVIary the IMolher of 
God, and of her Divine Son, and are interspersed with 
symbols of the Passion of Our Lord and (he (^hnplets 
of His Blessed MotluM'. Their history is uiii(|ue in 
that the idea, of (luMr desiiin cenlered in I'alluH- 



21 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Moraii. He iiuuU* luiniaturo i)attoriis of all the win- 
dows; and the execution of his ideas is in the best 
traditions of early stained glass work. They are of 
P'rench construction — i)resuniably from Angers — and 
thoy form a very high class work of art. In themselves 
they merit a special description and deserve attentive 
study. The Saints who are portrayed in these win- 
dows are: On the right, St. Matthew, with a beauti- 
ful predella representing his angel; St. Mark, with 
his lion; St. Paul, bearing his sword; St. Rose, and 
lastly, St. Patrick; and on the left: St. John, who 
has the eagle as a predella; St. Luke, with the bull; 
St. Peter, bearing the Keys, and the Church forming 
a predella to his grand conception; St. Joseph, with 
his doves. 

The coloring of the glass is rich, and surprising 
effects are produced in a changing sunlight. The can- 
opies are of splendid design and the borders diversi- 
fied so that no window pre^sents any aspect of same- 
ness to another. When observed in the proper light, 
these windows exhibit the power of art, to re-picture 
the Mysteries of Religion and to glorify the ideals of 
consecrated character. The grand figures of Christ 
and his Virgin Mother, the devotion of the Apostles, 
the wisdom of the Evangelists, the purity and deter- 
mination of the Saints, come to us in the colored 
lights, which art has taken to teach the lesson of their 
constancy and which the Church through her Conse- 
crated Priesthood has ever fostereil — recalling, as 
they have, the power of the artist to sanctify the soul 
of man. 

l»ehind the Sanctuary of the Church there is a 
small Chapel, now used as a Vestry, in which are 
important ix?lics. The Chapel has four windows of 



22 




Sldined Glass Window Dedicattd to Our Blessed Lord and Savior 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



stained glass representing the four Evangelists. The 
windows are gifts of members of the Parish^ — that 
of St. Matthew having been donated by surviving 
relatives, ^^In memory of John C. and Julia A. 
Burning;" St. Mark's, the gift of the "Children of 
Mary, 1898;" St. Luke, the gift of John J. Mooney, 
"In memory of John J. and Margaret Mooney;" and 
St. John, the gift of "Dr. John B. Richmond." 

The Altar of the Chapel deserves a particular 
mention; it was used as the Main Altar before the 
extensions to the Church were made. The Altar is of 
wood and most carefully constructed. At the Gospel 
side, front, stands a most endearing and sacred piece 
of workmanship which is the construction of the 
talented Father Moran. This is the Baptismal 
Font that has been used for more than seventy years. 
The Font is scarcely 3% feet high; it is of simple 
suggestive outlines. It possesses mechanical features 
in the arrangementvS for carrying away and still 
preserving the Holy AYater that might be used in 
excess in the administration of the Sacrament of 
Baptism. Together with its tiny whitc^ pitcher, the 
Baptismal Font forms a precious relic which should 
never be perinitted to pass to ruin. It was at this 
Font that many received the favor of a grace that 
in their later days shone fortli in brilliant l»riostly 
Character or in devout and sacrificing worsliip for 
the honor and glory of God. It was at (his lM>nt 
that Daniel G. Durning, the first iiaMve of Newark 
raised to the Priesthood, was bai)tize(l. It was here 
also tliat tlie late Most Bev. Michael Augustine 
Corrigau had the regenerating waters ])()nred n])(>n 
his head; and that thousands were received into the 
Christian Church. These facts alone will cause iIk^ 



23 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

little work of Father ^loran's handicraft to be 
jealously guarded by all tlie faithful of St. John's. 

A marble tablet in tlie interior of the Vestry relates 
a donation of two thousand dollars and solicits the 
prayers of the faithful for the donor; but no name 
jippears. It has been disclosed, however, that this 
$2,000 was a loan in the first place from a Catholic 
gentlenuin of Philadelphia — a relative of Anslem J. 
Fromaget, who was one of the original congregation 
of St. John's Church. When this loan was tendered 
by Father Moran, he who had loaned it made it a 
donation. 



^ 



24 




Stained Glass Window Dedicated to the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mother 



CHAPTER VI 

Two New Dioceses Created 

The Holj Pontiff of imperishable memory, Pius 
VII., created the Diocese of New York on April 8th, 
1808. The See of Philadelphia was created at the 
same time. Both were detached from the Diocese of 
Baltimore, which His Holiness had just erected an 
Archdiocese. The State of New Jersey was divided 
into two parts, one of which was attached tO' the See 
of New York and the other to the See of Philadelphia. 
The dividing line was the Delaware Eiver running 
from Easton, Pa., to Trenton, New Jersey, thence by 
a line to Egg Harbor. The whole of Eastern New 
Jersey formed part of New York See, and the rest 
of the State was made part of Philadelphia. Diocese. 
Both Dioceses were created Suffragan Sees of the 
Archdiocese of Baltimore. 

The first Bishop named for the Ncav York See was 
the Rev. Richard Luke Concanen, an Irish Dominican, 
who had spent many years at Rome Avhere he was 
regarded as a profound scholar and an able adminis- 
trator. The Bishop-elect Avas consecrated in the 
Eternal City by Cardinal di IMetro, April 21th, and 
expected to sail immediately for America, but he 
never took possession of his Cathedral — old St. 
Patrick's in Mott street, New York city. He was a 
British subject and was hc^Ul under sus])icion by 
France which was then at war with Creal lii-itain. 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



There appearing no hope of his early departure for his 
See, he empowered Archbishop Carroll, of Baltimore, 
to appoint an Administrator, and he nominated the 
distinguished Jesuit, Kev. Anthon}' Kohlniann, Hector 
of St. l*eter's, !N'ew York city, who continued to 
direct the affairs of the Diocese until 1814. Bishop 
Concanen was stricken with fever on June 17th, 1810, 
at Naples, and died the following day. 

It was during the Pontificate of Pius VII., it may 
be permitted to digress, that Napoleon I., the greatest 
conqueror of modern times, attained the acme of his 
glory. Arrayed in the panoply of his warlike fame, he 
considered that his expressed request should be 
respected. He desired the Sovereign Pontiff to declare 
war against Great Britain, a pronounced Protestant 
nation, and close the Papal ports against British 
commerce. The Holy Father nobly replied that 
^^all Christians hcing his children he could have 
no enemies among ihem.'^ We shall the better 
understand the value of this declaration when it 
is recalled to mind that at the time it was made almost 
the w^hole of Europe lay helpless at the conqueror's 
feet. The venerable Pontiff was not ignorant of the 
penalty he incurred by disobeying Napoleon ; he suf- 
fered galling cax)tivit3\ But the hour of retribution 
is at hand. The ancient arm of the Pontiff is put 
forth in his defence, and the real though unseen 
power that gave one of his predecessors victory 
of old over the proud barbarian who, arrayed 
in all the panoply of destructive war, already 
thundered at the gates of Rome, intervenes once 
more, and the proud and haughty Emperor, hitherto 
great and unconquered, who had laughed to scorn the 
moral weapons of the Pope, is crushed beneath the 



26 



1 






^S.— 
1^^ 




1 


s 


jr 


SI 


n 


^// 


,/• 


iii 


1 



Pope Pius VII 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



blow. "What means the Pope by his excommunica- 
tion," he asked ; "does he think it will make the arms 
fall from the hands of my soldiers?'' The Russian 
Winter made reply as it tore the dread implements of 
war from the firm grasp of his strongest warriors, 
and left them a prey to the enemy he had so deeply 
wronged. 

The second Bishop of the Diocese of New York was 
Right Rev. John Connolly, another Irish Dominican, 
and Chief Prior of St. Clement's, Rome. He w^as 
chosen by Pius VII. in September, 1814, and was 
consecrated on November 6th, following; but nearly 
a year elapsed before he took possession of his See. 
He arrived at New York in the ship "Sally" from 
Dublin, November 24th, 1815, after a stormy voyage of 
sixty-eight days, and on the same day took possession 
of his Cathedral, which had been dedicated by the 
Right Rev. John Cheverus, Bishop of Boston, on 
Ascension Day, May 4th, 1815. At that time there 
were only four priests in the Diocese, embracing, as 
has been stated, the State of New York and Eastern 
New Jersey. Three were Fathers of the Society of 
Jesus : Kohlmann, Fenwick and Malou, and the fourth 
was a Dominican, the Rev. Thomas Carbry. Even in 
1823, there were only four priests. Father Kohlmann, 
while Pastor of St. Peter's, baptized John McCloskey, 
afterward the (^^ardinal-Archbislio]) of New York; 
and later in Rome, until his death, he was Father 
McCloskey's spiritual director. P>islu)p Connolly, 
though in his sixty-seventh year liad to perform all 
the duties of a Parish Priest. He was most zealous 
in liearing confessions and attending tlie sick. His 
Mitre was a crown of thorns, made the more so by 
the opposition of the Trustees who ri^fused to support 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



two chiiiTlios — St. Peter's and the Catheural — with- 
drew the sahiry of the Clergy and at times threatened 
to withhokl that of the lUshop. In those times the 
Trustees claimed the right to choose their own Pastors 
and insisted that the ecclesiastical authorities ai)X)rove 
their selection. The Bishop died February Gth, 1825. 

For nearly two years the See remained vacant, and 
during that time it Avas administered by the Very 
Rev. John Power, whom Right Rev. Dr. Connolly had 
appointed Vicar-General. He made his studies at 
Maynooth and was one of the first of the sons of that 
illustrious seat of learning to come to America. In 
1819, he arrived in New York, having been invited by 
the Trustees of St. Peter's, of which he became Pastor 
in 1822. According to the history of St. Patrick^s 
Cathedral, written by the present Archbishop of New 
York, Most Rev. John M. Farley, D. D., Father Power 
was a holy and learned priest and displayed unusual 
tact in dealing successfully with the Trustees, and 
"when the See became vacant by the death of Bishop 
Connolly, the Trustees of St. Peter's and St. Patrick's 
sent a petition to Rome, asking for the appointment 
of Father Power as their Bishop. The Propaganda, 
however, selected as the third Bishop of New York 
the Rev. John Dubois, who was consecrated b}' Arch- 
bishop Marechal October 29th, 1820, in the Cathedral 
at Baltimore.'^ 

!Mgr. Dubois was "obliged to fulfill at the same 
time the duties of a Bishop, Parish l*riest and 
Catechist." He battled with the evils of "Trusteeism." 
His appointment by Pius VII. was not acceptable to 
a considerable number of the Catholics of New York 
city, who desired Very Rev. John Power, the Adminis- 
trator, for Bishop, and they made plain their dis- 



28 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



pleasure with the appointment of one who was a 
stranger to them. The Trustees refused to pay the 
salary of a Priest appointed Pastor of the Cathedral 
by the Bishop, instead of a Clergyman proposed by the 
Trustees. A committee called on Bishop Dubois and 
informed him that they could not ^'conscientiously 
vote the Bishop's salary, unless he gave them such a 
Clergyman as would be acceptable to them." The 
Bishop replied : "Well, gentlemen, you may vote the 
salary or not, just as it seems good to you — I do not 
need much — I can live in the basement or in the 
garret; but whether I come up from the basement or 
down from the garret, I will still be your Bishop." 
Bishop Dubois died on December 20th, 1842, and 
was succeeded by Bishop John Hughes, his Coadjutor, 
the first Bishop who was consecrated in St. Patrick's 
Cathedral. It was during the Eight Kev. Bishop 
Dubois' administration that St. John's Parish, 
Newark, was founded. Bishop Hughes "took the bull 
by the horns," forever put a quietus upon the 
erroneous ideas at the foundation of "Trusteeism;" 
and the system was interred, never to be resurrected. 

Archbishop Hughes was sent to Europe by the 
United States Government in November, 1861, to exert 
his great influence abroad for the interests of this 
Nation which was then in the throes of Civil AYar. 
Shortly after his return, he delivered his famous 
sermon on the war, August ITth, 1802. As reported 
by the Freeman's Journal, he said : "If I had a voice 
in tlie councils of the Nation, I would siiy: Let 
volunteers continue and a draft be made. If three 
hundred thousand men be not suflicient, let three 
luindnMl thousand more be called u])on, so that the 
army in its fullness of strength shall be always on 



29 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

hand for any enu'riiencv. This is not cnieltv. This 
is mercy; this is humanity. Anything that will put 
an end to the draggling of human blood across the 
whole surface of the country." The Archbishop's 
remarks on conscripting called forth considerable 
criticism in certain quarters and alienated many of 
his Southern friends and admirers. His mission to 
Europe was highly successful ; and, on his return 
home, he was thanked publicly by President Lincoln, 
and the Congi-ess of the United States also tendered 
him a unanimous vote of thanks. 

In the name of the Bishops who attended the first 
Provincial Council of New York, Archbishop 
Hughes addressed a Pa>storal to the faithful of the 
Province counselling dignity and patience during the 
Know-Xothing persecutions. At tliis time "Italian 
Unity" isie) was attracting great attention. Some 
American papers following the wake of a corrupt 
British press that boasted, as if in derision, of being 
**the best possible public instructors,-' would 
*'out-Herod" the malicious lies of the ^'London 
Thunderer,'* and print foul calumnies against the 
Papal Government. "Yellow Journalism" was in 
the saddle in those times. The .second Provincial 
Council of the Bishops was convened by Archbishop 
Hughes and a Pastoral issue in which the Temporal 
Rights of the Pontiff-Sovereign were defended. Some 
American newspapers accepted the doctrine laid down 
by the Bishops in its entirety and recomm(^nde<l 
it to their readei^s. Copies were sent to European 
rulers, except Queen Victoria and King Victor 
Emmanual. The Pope had the Pa.<toral translated 
into Italian and distributed throughout Italy. 



30 




Main Allar and Altars of Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph 



CHAPTER VII 

Founding St. John's Parish 

St. John's, while not the first erected, was the 
first Church in New Jersey having a resident Pastor. 
Its history may be said to be the history of Catholicity 
in this State. In 1826, Eev. Gregory B. Pardow, of 
New York, was sent to NcAvark to minister unto the 
Catholics. In ^^The Story of the Cross in Newark,'^ as 
told by the late Dr. James Elliott, in a lecture 
delivered under the auspices of the Young Men's 
Catholic Association, about fifteen j^ears ago, he saA'^s : 
"It is a pity no Church records are in existence of the 
history of the formation of St. John's Parisli — the 
primary efforts to build a Church edifice; the names 
of the original subscribers; the date of the laying of 
the corner stone of the first edifice, which conipriscd 
the central third of the present Church; and the list 
of pewholders. All that is known now was handed 
down from sire to son except in the official records in 
the office of the Clerk of Essex County, concerning the 
first steps taken to organize a Parish and purchase 
land for a ('luirch site." These records show that on 
November 25th, 1820, a Roman Catholic Society 
was incor])orated; tliat "Tlie Trustees licrcinafttu' 
named recite to tlie c^kH'tion of themselves as 
Trustees of the Roman Catliolic Society of Newark, 
at a meeiinu' of tin* said Society hcMd in St. flohn's 



31 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

CliuiTli, in the Town of Newark, on the thirteenth day 
of November, 1S2G, and notice was given of such meet- 
ing according to the statutes in such cases made and 
provided." As there was no Church edifice in Newark 
then, what the Trustees meant by '^a meeting of said 
Society held in St. John's Church" was evidently that 
they regarded the carpenter shop or one of the 
private houses where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 
was offered as ^'St. John's Church" for the time being. 

The first Trustees were Patrick Murph}', John 
Sherlock, John Kelly, Christopher Rourke, Maurice 
Fitzgerald, John Gillespie and Patrick Mape. Before 
the erection of the Church edifice, the Catholics of 
Newark and surrounding country used to meet for 
Divine Service at the Turf House, located at No. 40 
Mulberry street (according to Pierson's Directory of 
1S3G), near the Southeast corner of Durand and ^lul- 
berry streets and occupied by Charles Durning, father 
of the late John C. Durning, who for many years was 
Clerk of the Essex County Grand Jury. Mass used 
also to be celebrated in the home of Martin Kowan, 
Washington street, near Rowan's Lane, and also in 
the homes of Christopher O'Rourke, John Sherlock, 
Jean Vache, High and *Broad streets, and Anslem J. 
Fromeget, High street, and other old settlers. What 
was number 40 Mulberry then, is now number 60, the 
location of the present Lutheran Evangelical Church. 
Before the erection of St. John's, when the number 
of Catholics began to increase. Mass used to be cele- 
brated in a carpenter shop near the present location 
of the German Lutheran Clnirch in ^[ulben-y street. 

One of the first acts of the Trustees was to provide 
a permanent place of worship. On March 2d, 1827, 

• Clinton avenue was then a continuation of Broad street. 



32 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



ground was purchased from George Cross for 
three hundred and twenty-five dollars, on Mulberry 
street, the site of the present Church edifice, and the 
deed was recorded May 23rd, 1827. The corner stone 
was laid by the Very Kev. Dr. Power, of St. Peter's 
Church, Barclay street, New York. Work on the 
building was begun in 1827. When the foundation 
was finished, a difficulty confronts the Trustees^ — their 
funds are exhausted. They sent a committee to wait 
on Very Kev. Dr. John Power, to ask him to lecture 
in Newark for the benefit of the struggling Parish; 
and he, only too willing to aid the faithful, cheer- 
fully consented. But a new difficulty arises — there 
was no public hall in Newark at the time. At the sug- 
gestion of Dr. Power, the Trustees called upon the 
Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Protestant 
Episcopal Church and requested the use of that edi- 
fice for the lecture. The request was kindly and 
unanimously granted, and no charge was made. The 
Wardens were Caleb Sayre and John Rutherford, and 
the Vestrymen, Frederick Babcock, Archer Gilford, 
Joel W. Condit, Hanford Smith, Sheldon Smith, 
Henry W. Kingsland, Augustus W. Van Home, 
Joseph Kingsland, Daniel Stansbury and Enos Wil- 
liams, most of whom held office in the year begin- 
ning Easter, 182G. Their Minutes are silent as to the 
action of the Board about the lecture of Dr. Power; 
probably things were done then as not infrequently 
they are done now, when the Wardens and Vestry 
get together informally after a service and decide a 
question. Besides the lecture by Dr. Power, an 
Oratorio was sung by the Choir of St. Peter's Church, 
New York. The Sentinel of Freedom, the i)recursor 
of the Newark Daily Adrerliser and the Ncwnrk Star, 



33 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

published a eomiiiunicatiou signed **A/' as follows, 
on the date of the entertainment: 

"The Catholic corporation of this Town, I perceive, 
are to give an Oratorio this evening at the Episcopal 
Church. Their elforts are truly laudable. Shall we 
condemn any sect or profession and deny them our 
patronage because they differ from us in religious 
opinion? I trust not. The contrary principle should 
be the boast of every liberal man, and such, I hope, 
is the case with the majority of our citizens. Never- 
theless, some have already declared themselves on 
that account hostile. Every person must be aware 
that the Catholics of Newark are very numerous, and 
a place of worship for their assemblage on the Holy 
Day is absolutely necessary, for such is their tenacity 
to their faith and their principle of religion, that to 
spend the Sunday in idleness is far preferable than 
to attend our places of worship. It is to be hoped, 
then, that the reflecting and zealous Christian will 
lend his aid from prudential motives at least. 

"The musicians and lovers of music are referred to 
the bill as a sufficient inducement. Such a combina- 
tion of musical talent in this Town has probably never 
been witnessed and should not be neglected. May 
their endeavors be rewarded with the distinguished 
approbation of ^crowded house.' " 

The late Jabez P. Pennington, a member of one 
of the most distinguished families of New Jersey, 
wrote, in reply to a letter of inquiry about Father 
Power's lecture and the Oratorio : 

''James Elliott, M, D. 

"Dear Sir: — I received your note requesting any 
information I may have relative to the use of Trinity 
Church edifice by the Catholics of St. John's Church 



3i 




Allar in Vestry which was Main Allar in Church hvioi 
Sacred F.clilice 



the extensions of th 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



in aid of that Church. It was many years ago, and I 
cannot call to mind any circumstances or incidents of 
interest, in that regard, beyond what you are probably 
aware of, or I would cheerfully aid you. 

^'The Church was used for that purpose I well recol- 
lect, for I was present and a listener to the lecture 
delivered by the Eeverend gentleman named. I was 
not a Vestryman of Trinity at that date and had no 
knowledge of their proceedings. It had no doubt the 
approbation of the Vestry, but how it was brought 
about and who were instrumental in the arrangements 
made I cannot say. 

"Not being a permanent member of the congrega- 
tion at the time and having no particular interest in 
the case I gave but little thought to the subject then 
or since. It was I think generally regarded as an act 
of courtesy and good will on the part of Trinity 
Parish towards a Christian society of a different 
denomination, just organized in its immediate vicinity. 

"Should anything occur to me that would be of 
service to you I will write you. 

"Very truly, 

"J. P. PENNINGTON. 
"Newark, December 22, 1885." 

On April 29th, 1828, the lecture was delivered 
before a large audience — the church was tilled. 
Every seat was occupied. Three-fourths of Die audi- 
ence comprised Protestants, as the Catholic p()i)iila- 
tion then was very small and the people poor. Tlie 
liberal and generous action of Old Trinity on that 
occasion has been and ever will be rtMiiembenHl by 
the Catholic citizens of Newark. 



35 



CHAPTER VIII 

Dedication of St. John's Church 

St. John's was dedicated in 1828 — the Very Rev. 
Dr. Power officiating in the absence of Right Rev. 
Bishop Dubois. It was a very eventful day for the 
Catholics of Newark and environments. Joy filled 
their hearts, and in thanksgiving they raised their 
souls to Heaven. Their cup of joy was filled. At 
last they had a permanent place of worshij) which 
was their own, and in whose Tabernacle the Holy of 
Holies would dwell. The dimensions of the original 
building were fifty feet by sixty-five fcH^t. Some 
writers describe St. John's "of old" as "a primitive'' 
structure; say that "the walls were unplastered" and 
that "the seats were boards resting on stones;" that 
^'the front and rear ends of the building were of rough 
boards, and not infrequently rain or snow was blown 
through the crevices on the worshippers." As the late 
Dr. Elliott remembered them, "the walls were very 
white and smooth; the seats plain but substantial and 
comfortable, and the interior properly arranged." 

When Timothy Bestick, in the early history of St. 
John's Parish, came from Ireland, the Church Avas 
unfinished; and in after years he used to give very 
exaggerated accounts of the rough condition of the 
interior of the edifice: "boards resting on stones for 
seats;" "the snow storms, and rain, and hail, and 
wind, blowing in through the rough boards in front 



36 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



and rear of the building;'' "the swallows flying about 
the Church," and many other fanciful pictures. 
Bestick was a practical joker, and no doubt he gave 
some aspirant for "yellow journalism" a humorous 
story of some unfinished structure which had only a 
subjective existence — in his mind's eye. The late 
Dr. Elliott made a drawing from memory of the old 
Church as it stood before its enlargement by Father 
Moran and gave it to one of his sons. The drawing- 
has been lost; but Michael Elliott says it was in no 
wise like the "old log cabin" which purports to 
represent the original Church building. 

There never has been but one Catholic Church 
edifice erected in St. John's Parish — that which was 
built by Eev. Gregory Bryan Pardow, in 1827-8, and 
which was subsequently enlarged by Father Moran. 
Fifteen years ago Peter J. Leary, who was a boy when 
Father Moran came to Newark, got up a souvenir for 
the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Consecration of the 
Church. He desired to print a representation of the 
original edifice before the extensions and facade were 
added ; and he got a friend to make a drawing of the 
"old Church" from his description. The sketch was 
made; and the result is that a drawing, wliich appears 
to represent an "old log cabin," has been imposed 
upon the credulity of the Catholics of New Jei'sey as 
a representation of "St. John's first Catholic Church, 
built by Eev. Gregory Bryan Pardow, 1828." This 
is the story of the origin of the "okl log cabin" ])i('iui*(\ 
as the author has learned it from the lips of liim who 
had tlie drawing made. When Bishop lluglies visitivl 
St. John's to adjust "grievances'' between the ])arish- 
i<mers and l^ither Moran, wlio desirinl lo enlarge llu^ 
Church, he said: "U'/7/i a single creep! ion, i/onrs 



37 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



ira^ the first edifice erected in Neic Jersey to hear 
aloft the emblem of salvation, the Cross.'' If there 
was another building, anterior to the present Church, 
such as the "old log cabin" drawing, a cross certainly 
would have surmounted it; and the edifice which 
Father Moran desired to enlarge could not have been 
'Hhe first edifice to hear aloft the cross." But it is 
preposterous to think that Bishop Hughes could be 
mistaken. He kncAV whereof he spoke — always 
measured his words. The exception noted by him 
was the first Catholic Church in Paterson, the erection 
of which antedated the erection of the cross on St. 
John's Church, Newark, by five or six years. 

Men from the quarries dug the foundation, con- 
tributed the material and did most of the work. 
A grave yard large enough for the wants of the 
time was laid out in the rear and to the Southwest 
of the edifice. Some of the bodies were subsequently 
removed to St. John's Cemetery on Belleville avenue, 
in the rear of the present St. Michael's Church. These 
removals were made necessary when the extensions to 
the Church were built ; but many of those old pioneers, 
predecessors of ours — our Fathers in the Faith — still 
rest beneath the shadow of old St. John's. 

The original Church was never torn down, and its 
walls form part of the present edifice. Father Moran 
enlarged it two or three times, being his own architect, 
designing the facade as it now is, and making most of 
the interior ornaments himself. The Main Altar, as 
it now is, is the work of his own hands. The hammer 
used by him in building the Altar is in the possession 
of the late Dr. Elliott's family, and through the 
courtesy of ^lichael Elliott, one of the sons, the author 
is privileged to present a picture of it from a photo. 



38 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



As the cost of the building exceeded the estimate 
by a considerable sum, it was deemed advisable to put 
the pews up at auction, and Daniel Elliott, a retail 
grocer, who settled in Belleville in 1822, and father of 
the late Dr. James Elliott and grandfather of the 
present County Physician of Essex County, bid in the 
front pew in the right of the middle aisle, and thereby 
became the first Catholic pewholder in New Jersey. 
By this sale a handsome sum was realized, and some 
of the more urgent bills of the contractors 
were paid. But there was still a large bal- 
ance of unpaid indebtedness. During the panic of 
1829, the Trustees were sued for debts incurred owing 
to poor management. The creditors were non- 
Catholics. They got judgment and the Church edifice 
was ordered to be sold ; but in this emergency Bishop 
Dubois came to the rescue. Through his friend Bishop 
Brute, he secured a loan from the Association of the 
Propagation of the Faith. All the claims against the 
Church were then paid. 

The Kev. Gregory B. Pardow, the founder, was 
appointed Pastor of the Church in 1830, and was then 
the only resident Catholic Pastor in New Jersey. He 
labored faithfully with the Parish and, through his 
energy, zeal and tact, insured its success. He was 
succeeded by the Bev. Matthew Herard, October 7th, 
1832 ; and on October 13th, 1833, the hitter was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. P. Rafferty, who administered 
the Parish three weeks. 



39 



CHAPTER IX 

Father Moran's Administration 

The Rev. Patrick Moran, the fourth Pastor, was 
appointed November 3d, 1833. He was a man pre- 
eminently fitted for the post — possessing keen judg- 
ment of men and things, a refined and correct taste 
and a well-trained mind. Under his leadership and 
control, the affairs of St. John's advanced rapidly, 
despite the panic of 1837. The sterling qualities of 
their Pastor won the people's love and confidence and 
gained for the congregation the esteem of their non- 
Catholic neighbors. When the late Most Rev. James 
Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., Archbishop of Baltimore, was 
appointed first Bishop of the See of Newark, then com- 
prising the entire State of New Jersey, one of his 
first acts was to select Father Moran as his Vicar- 
General. Though this post of honor and responsibility 
brought new and arduous labors upon the Pastor of 
St. John's, parochial work did not suffer. Father 
Moran organized Church societies, literary-, temper- 
ance and benevolent associations, and having begun 
a library society, he soon had eight hundred and fifty 
volumes in circulation — truly a great number in those 
days. To St. John's belongs the proud distinction of 
giving birth to the first Circulating Library in 
Newark. The Newark Library Association, ^'for the 



40 



J 




Bdplisinal Font buill l)y lallici Moran 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

establishment of a library with all proper conven- 
iences and appurtenances ♦ * * ^ith the view to 
advance the interests of learning generally and better 
educate the youth of the City of Newark in science, 
literature and the arts," was only created by Act of 
the Legislature a body corporate in 1847, and opened 
in 1848, thirteen years after St. John's Library had 
been put in operation. 

FIRST LIBRARY IN NEWARK. 

St. John's Circulating Library was founded in the 
year 1835, and in 1858 contained 1,300 volumes, 
including the best standard Catholic works on religion 
and morality that were published in the English 
language; and also ecclesiastical and secular history, 
both ancient and modern — together with many 
interesting and instructive miscellaneous productions 
of eminent writers. Among the many benefits 
derived from the founding of the Library, it 
afforded the Sunday School Teachers the means 
of making themselves well acquainted with the 
subjects which they might have to teach the 
children for whose instruction they had volunteered 
their services. Then, the Library placed ^'within the 
reach of every member of the congregation an ample 
source of information and religious instruction, to 
which many, from their circumstances in life, could 
not otherwise have access." And again, 'Mt furnished 
not only the Catholic but the sincere inquirer after 
truth, of every religious denomination in those days, 
with a correct, authenticated statement of the real 
principles of the Catholic Faitli — in which (^very point 
of Catholic doctrine was very fully developed and 
explained in tlie most lucid and satisfactory manner." 
Thus it was, in a great measure, an effective antidote 



41 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



against the virulent productions of bigotry and 
fanaticism, which in the shape of newly invented 
immoral talcs, and antiquated calumnies, revised and 
modernized, were too frequently forced on the com- 
munity by irresponsible individuals whose chief 
object was to gain by the sale of their books, and who 
thus, regardless of evil consequences, hesitated not, 
under the pretext of pious zeal, to hurl the firebrand 
of sectarian bigotry and religious discord not only 
into the social but too often into the domestic circle. 
St. John's Circulating Library-, then, was an insti- 
tution well calculated to advance the cause of Truth, 
Religion and Morality, to increase the means of use- 
ful knowledge, to check the pernicious effects of mis- 
guided zeal and hypocritical knavery, and to pro- 
mote and cherish the kind spirit of Christian charity 
and religious tolerance. It had certainly a strong 
claim on the liberal support of every well meaning 
Christian who desired light. ''They shall know the 
truth, and the truth will make them free;" and the 
individual whose religious indifferences or apathy 
for self-improvement rendered him insensible to these 
objects, was not worthy to bear the name of Catholic. 

Father Moran's soul was permeated with the spirit 
of the Master, and he took prompt measures for 
the establishment of Catholic or Parish Schools. He 
first secured a two-story frame building at No. 168 
Plane street, near Market street, where he opened a 
Parochial School and arranged for the free education 
during the evenings of such as could not attend day 
schools. The first floor was used for male pupils and 
the second floor for females. The first Principal was 
John Nugent, a graduate of Maynooth College. He 
entered as a law student with the late John White- 



42 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

head, and after serving two years as Principal of St. 
John's School he resigned to practice law. He after- 
ward became Private Secretary to United States 
Senator William Wright, father of Col. Edward H. 
Wright, one of the present Directorate of the Mutual 
Benefit Life Insurance Company. While in Washing- 
ton, Mr. Nugent was correspondent of the New York 
Herald. Subsequently he became the editor of the 
New Jersey Vindicator. He afterward went to 
California where he established the San Francisco 
Herald^ fought two duels and became widely known. 
Mr. Nugent was succeeded by Bernard Kearney. In 
later years Father Moran purchased ground in 
Mulberry street, nearly opposite the Church, and 
erected thereon a building for Parochial School 
purposes. The first teacher in the female department 
of the school in Plane street was Miss Love. She was 
succeeded by Miss Quinn, who afterward became the 
wife of David Ledwith, for many years Auditor of the 
Emigrants' Savings Bank, New York. The school 
was supported in part by weekly contributions of two 
cents for every adult person — man or woman known 
to be Catholics; and, for the purpose of making these 
collections, the entire Town Avas divided into districts. 
While collectors went the rcmnds of their respective 
districts and made collections weekly, they only 
made returns to the Pastor once a month. The late 
Dr. James Elliott was a])])oinied one of Ww colUn'tors 
and served with remarkable zeal and li(h»lity. Thes(> 
collectors were nicknamed '^Father Moran's iJej^i^ar- 
men," by our separated brethren, b'ather Moran's 
chief source of ])leasiire and ])ri(le was in his Sunday 
School, which he raised to a high degi'c^e of exci^Uence. 
Bernard Kearney was PresidenI of (he Siimhiy School 



43 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Society. Connected with this Sunday School was 
a Teachers' Association which was a model of its 
kind. The President of that Association was John 
J. Moonev, the father of the present John J. Moonej ; 
and when he died — the result of an accident — led bv 
Father Moran, several hundred children followed 
his remains to St. John's Cemetery, where the inter- 
ment was made. 

During Father Moran's Pastorate he was called 
away for a year or more to be President of an educa- 
tional institution in New York State. In his absence, 
Father Farrell, a zealous and eloquent Priest, 
administered the Parish. Returning to Newark 
Father Moran resumed charge. The Church was then 
too small to accommodate the many immigrants daily 
arriving in Newark and Belleyille. In 183S, he 
resolved to enlarge the edifice by extending the rear. 
This was opiX)sed by persons who had relatives buried 
in St. John's graveyard, because the improvement 
would encroach upon ground devoted to burial 
purposes. Bishop Hughes was called to settle the 
matter, and the improvement was made. Soon after 
ground for St. John's Cemetery on Belleville avenue 
was purchased. 

Typhus fever followed in the wake of the famine 
in Ireland in 1S46, and Asiatic cholera followed in 
the wake of the fever and raged throughout the land. 
Thousands upon thousands were stricken down, 
and thousands of othei-s, who could, emigrated to 
America. From 1846 to 1849, it is estimated that 
more than one million of her people left Ireland. The 
exodus from Ireland added to the Catholic popula- 
tion of Newark, and more church room is necessary. 
In 1846 Father Moran resolved upon another enlarge- 



44 




The Jeweler's Hammer used by Father Moran when he constructed the Ahars 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



ment of the Church. This was vigorously opposed by 
many of the oldest members of the Parish, who desired 
to build a larger Church. A meeting was called to 
oppose any more alterations of St. John's and to 
start a subscription for a new edifice. It was held in 
the Church after Vespers. A chairman and secretary 
were appointed; they were engaged writing down 
names of subscribers and amounts of subscriptions to 
the new fund, when Father Moran appeared on the 
Altar steps, denounced the gathering as illegal and 
demanded an immediate adjournment. The Church 
was vacated at once and the meeting adjourned to 
the Parochial School rooms at No. 168 Plane street. 
A committee of twenty-one was named and directed to 
wait upon Bishop Hughes and state grievances. On 
the following Sunday, the Bishop was at St. John's. 
At the close of the first Gospel he ascended the Altar 
steps, read the Gospel for the day and preached. The 
sermon concluded, the Bishop came directly to the 
question of a new Church edifice and the enlarging of 
the old. He said: "You have, my dear brethren, a 
model Pastor. Appealing from him to me in this 
parochial matter, is like appealing from me to myself. 
Your Pastor has ever manifested a zeal for religion 
and the best interests of liis Parish that lias met my 
entire aj^probation. With regard to (he contemphUtul 
improvement of your Church I cannot undiM'stand 
why you should not cheerfully co-opernle \\ i(h your 
Pastor. Financially considered it will not be a \cry 
serious undertaking, and your Paslor's ])lan will 
beautify very much the appearance of your Cluircli. 
With a single exception, j/oiirs was llic first ((Hficc 
erected in New JerHCij to hear aloft the rnil>li ni of 
salvation, the Cross. For (he honor of religion it 



45 



HISTORY OF ST. JOH.VS CHURCH 



should not be permitted to fall into minons deoav. 
You owe a debt to the Faith and the senrice and the 
memory of those who erected it amidst trials and 
difficulties — manv of whom have passed to their 
reward. Your Pastor has in view a site for a new 
ChurclL He will soon secure the property. It 
would be premature at this time to publicly locate 
the ground, but the position will be central and meets 
my entire approbation. As soon as the ground has 
been secured, a new edifice will be at once begtin. 
The name selected is St. Patrick's, I am informed 
that a large amount of money has been subscribed 
for a new Church. The amounts, when paid, are to 
be used only according to the intention of the zealous 
and generous subscribers and for no other purp:»>e. 
I sincerely hope you will all unite with your devott^l 
Pastor and aid him in his laudable effort to improve 
the time honored structure that must ever be dear 
to all the people of St. John's. It is your old friend. 
In it many of yotir children were baptized and again 
confirmed. Let yotir love for old acquaintance siike 
remain warm and true toward tlie old stone Church 
that it may long stand as a landmark for your children 
to behold with pride.'' Notwithstanding this appeal, 
most of those who were urgent for the new Church 
never gave even a penny toward the improvement uf 
the old. Without their aid, however, the front was 
added to the Church, the Towers erected, a Chime of 
Bells and an Organ put in; and when the work was 
finished the exterior of the edifice presented the 
appearance it does today. 

OONSECRATION OF ST. JOHNS. 

As the result of Father Moran's unceasing labor 
and unflinching energy, St. John's Church was con- 



k 



46 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

secrated by the Eight Reverend James Roosevelt 
Bayley, D. D., in May, 1858; it is the first Consecrated 
Church, not only in the Diocese of Newark, but in 
New Jersey. In his Pastorate of thirty-four years at 
St. John's, Father Moran toiled incessantly with his 
people, endearing himself to them, showing himself 
always their faithful counsellor and guide. Of a 
bright and cheerful disposition he imparted the glow 
of his kindly nature to all with whom he came in con- 
tact. His delight was to be with the children of the 
Parish, whose little hearts were filled with love for 
their Father in God. At last, after his long years of 
true and faithful service, after a life of constant, 
persevering devotion to duty, his life's race is run. 
Leaving to his devoted flock the priceless inheritance 
of the example of a holy life and the memory of a 
gentle, loving soul, he breathed his last and committed 
his spirit to God, July 25th, 1866. At his bedside 
were the Rev. George H. Doane, then Rector of St. 
Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, 
President of Seton Hall, Rev. James Moran, Assistant 
Priest at St. John's, and three Sisters of Charity. 






47 



CHAPTER X 

The Chimes of St. John's 

The bells comprising the Chimes are nine in 
number. They were cast by the 'Oleneely Bell 
Foundry, West Troy, New York," and placed in 
position in 1859. There is no parochial record of the 
names given to them. The largest bell and the one 
next in size bear the inscription respectivoly of 

"RIGHT REV. J. R. BAYLEY, 

First Bishop" 

and 

"VERY REV. PATRICK MORAN, V. G., 

Pastor." 

All the other bells are inscribed ''St. John's Church, 
Newark, N. J." The Chimes were blessed by Bishop 
Bayley. When they were received from the foundry, 
one of the parishioners, Edward Scott, asked : "What 
are you going to do Avith them; you have nobody to 
ring the Chimes?" "Never mind that, Edward," said 
Father Moran; "I have a young man in the Parish 
wlio can manage tliat." WIkmi he or(kn*ed the Chimes 
Father Moran, anticipating the contingency, contrived 
an arrangement for a tiny set of nine bells, and got 
John Savage, who afte-rwards became a famous 
vocalist, to i)ractice upon them; and when the Church 
Chimes were placed in position in the tower, young 
Savage proved to be quite an adept bell ringer. St. 
John's Chimes were the first erected in Newark. They 



48 




Rrv. Mauiicf I'. O'Connor 
Arch-Prlc^^ al tlir juhilrr M«»s 



1 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 



were a novelty and an inspiration to the people who 
regarded them as "one of the wonders of the age/' 
Hundreds of citizens would congregate day after day 
on the street to listen to the Chimes which were a topic 
on every tongue, and the praises of which were sung 
in the public prints. When the Union Volunteers 
who enlisted in Newark for the Civil War marched 
past the Church down Mulberry street, St. John's 
Chimes made their hearts lighter as' if Angelic voices 
urged them on to do battle for God and Country. 
Father Moran took great pride in his Chimes and 
Organ. He would often say he "did not know a note 
of music," but that the tones of the Organ and the 
voices of the Choir "thrilled his soul with harmony." 
This suggests the idea of Longfellow : "Music is the 
universal language of mankind;" and of Carlyle: 
"Music is well said to be the speech of Angels ;" and 
of Addison's Song for St. Cecelia's Day: 

*'Music, Religion's heart inspires ; 

It makes ttie soul and lifts it high, 
And lifts it with sublime desire, 

And fits it to bespeak the Diety," 

For sweetness and purity of tone, St. John's 
Chimes, wlien erected, were superior to the bells of 
any other Church in the United States, with this 
single exception — those of Trinity Protestant 
Episcopal Church, New York city. The bells are 
operated by a lever system in the Church towi^r, aiul 
connected overhead. The rang(^ is one octave, with 
an extra bell — an intermediate isev(Mith — which 
enables the performer to play them in two k(\vs. 
Whil(^ Father Moran claimed he "did not know a note 
of music," still he was able to and did play the Ailcstc 
FideliH (m Christmas Morning, IS.V.). Mr. Savage 
continued to ring the Chimes and sing in tlu^ (Mioir 



49 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

until 1803, when lie enlisted as a private in Co. F, 
Twenty-sixtli New Jersey Volunteers, for the Civil 
War. While he was absent, doing battle for the 
conservation of the Union, St. John's Chimes were 
silent like the Harp that ^'hangs so mute on Tara's 
walls." Returning from the War he again rang the 
Chimes and sang in the Choir. He was choir leader 
for several years when Father Killeen was Pastor, 
lie had the direction of the musical progi*amme at 
the laying of the corner stone of St. Michael's 
Hospital, September 29th, 1869, and in 1873 he took 
a prominent part in the Anvil Chorus at the Grand 
Opera House, in a concert for the benefit of that 
hospital. Mr. Savage subsequently was absent from 
Newark several years, filling engagements in St. 
INIary's, Plainfield; Norfolk, Conn., and in Catholic 
Churches in Brooklyn and New York city — among 
them St. Francis Xavier's, Sixteenth street. On the 
occasion of the Thirty-fifth anniversary of the 
Consecration of old St. John's, which was celebrated 
Sunday, May 7th, 1893, he led the Choir. It was the 
last time he sang. His health was poor, and the 
exertions in leading the Choir exhausted him. He 
died in St. Michael's Hospital, Friday, May 26th, 
1893; and on May 31st, a Solemn Requiem Mass for 
the repose of his soul was sung by Rev. James P. 
Poels, Rector of St. John's; assisted by Rev. Michael 
A. McManus, Rector of St. Aloysius, as Deacon, and 
Rev. Dr. Fanning as Sub-Deacon. 



50 



CHAPTER XI 

Father Moran's Obsequies 

The body of Father Moran was removed from the 
rectory to the Church on Thursday, July 26th, 1866, 
and it is estimated that fully twenty thousand persons 
of all conditions in life, including numbers of our 
separated brethren, viewed the remains. The grief 
of the people by Aviiom the good Priest was so greatly 
beloved was strikingly manifested and many touching 
scenes were witnessed. The Rev. George H. Doane, 
of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, officiated at the Office 
of the Dead. The obsequies of the saintly Priest took 
place the following morning. The Rev. Bernard J. 
McQuaid, now the beloved Bishop of Rochester, offici- 
ated at the Solemn Requiem Mass, assisted b}^ the Rev. 
Fathers Hogan and Gervais, as Deacon and Sub- 
Deacon, and the Rev. Father Hickey, Assistant Priest. 
Archbishop McCloskey, of New York, Right Rev. 
Bishop Bayley, of Newark, and the Right Rev. Bishop 
Bacon, of Portland, Me., and about sixty l*riests were 
present. Among the Reverend Clergy were Dr. 
McGlynn, of New York; Fathers Senez, George H. 
Doane, Madden, McCloskey, P>yrne and nearly all the 
other Priests of the Dio(;ese of Newark. 

Right Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, first Bishop 
of Newark, pronounced tlie euh)gy, and he was \ovy 
impressive. ^'Never were human words mon^ unneces- 



51 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

siiry," he said, to impress the minds of his hearers 
"than the great lesson of death, which needed no man's 
voice to enforce its teachings. A cold and lifeless body, 
so lately full of life and energy, lies before us. The 
eyes that so often beamed with intelligence and kind- 
ness are closed forever. We can no longer listen to 
his wise counsel and pleasant remarks. All this tells 
of the power of the great conqueror, Death, with a 
force to which no man can remain indifferent. If 
human words were unnecessary to enforce the lesson 
of death, they are less so to pronounce the eulogy in 
praise of the life and good deeds of the faithful Priest 
and servant of God, over whose body we are about 
to perform the last rites of the Church.'' 

Bishop Bayley then gave a sketch of the life of the 
deceased Priest. Very Rev. Patrick Moran, he said, 
was born in Ireland in the year 1798. His early days 
were passed under the healthy influences of a good 
and virtuous home, and quiet country life. He 
possessed a mind that was not developed slowly. In 
early life he was recognized as a bright and promising 
youth, and his parents marked out a life for him to 
be dedicated to the service of God and His Sanctuary. 
Once in conversation with Bishop Bayley, Father 
Moran related that his Bishop, Right Rev. Dr. P. 
Ryan, of Limerick, desired him to remain in Ireland; 
but he would come to America where missionary work 
was necessary. After sailing from his native land, the 
ship was driven back by storm. Again Bishop Ryan 
importuned him to stay in the Diocese of Limerick; 
but his importunities were of no avail. Father 
Moran like the Apostle to the Gentiles, was "con- 
sumed with zeal" for souls in a land where there was 
great want of Priests; and, like many of his country- 



52 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

men, he resolved to become an exile, and devote his life 
to the greater glory of God. His love of Ireland was 
only second to his love for his Divine Master. His 
mind was strong in local attachments which remained 
vivid to the last moments of his life. The theological 
studies which he commenced in Ireland were finished 
at Mount St. Mary's, Emmettsburg, the nursery of so 
many Priests. Bishop Dubois loved him as a child. 
Of his theological spiritual director, the saintly Brute, 
Father Moran used to speak in terms of the greatest 
love and admiration. The spirit of the master, in this 
instance, was upon the pupil and so continued until 
the end of his days. His systematic habits, the care 
and devotion with which he recited the Divine Office, 
the exactness with which he prepared the children of 
St. John's for the reception of the Sacraments of 
Penance, the Holy Communion and Confirmation, his 
reverence for the House of God and His Sanctuary — 
all showed what an influence the saintly Brute had 
upon him. Father Moran, was stationed for a short 
time in Brooklyn, and then became an Assistant to 
the Very Rev. Dr. Power, at St. Peter's, New York 
city. Of Dr. Power he was accustomed to speak as 
one possessing a clearer head, memory and full- 
ness of knowledge, than any man whom he had ever 
known. Father Moran was never what might be called 
a strong, rugged man, but he permitted notliing to 
interfere with the performance of his duty. His body 
fainted, but his heart never. Bishop Bayley then 
spoke of the other good qualities of the deceased 
priest; and said lie never woukl forget the welcome 
which he extended to him (the Bishop), when he 
came to Newark. Father Moran was kind hearted and 
generous and what natui-e did not do for him was 



53 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

supplied by God's grace. He was honest in the fullest 
sense of that term, and was distinguished for great 
humility and tenderness of heart. He would be missed 
by his congregation, by the city, (for all the people 
reverenced Father Moran — Catholic or Protestant); 
he would indeed be missed by his brethren of the 
Clergy, whom he loved so much; he would be 
missed by the parishioners of St. John's — he 
would be missed from their social gatherings, 
where his presence made all bright around him, 
and where his ready but never unkind wit made sun- 
shine wherever he went. During his closing remarks, 
the Bishop and the congregation wept. The Absolu- 
tion was pronounced by the Bishop, and then all that 
was earthy of the Very Rev. Patrick Moran, fourth 
Rector of St. John's, was borne to St. John's Ceme- 
tery, on Belleville avenue, accompanied by an immense 
concourse of people, including the children of the 
Sunday Schools and the orphan wards of the Parish. 
The pall bearers were John Hickey, Dennis Crowley, 
William Harrigan, Michael Mulvey, Richard Mc- 
Gowen and John Kavanagh; the honorary bearers 
were Dr. James Elliott^ Dr. William O'Gorman, 
Timothy Bestid, Charles Durning, John C. Durning, 
Michael Finnegan, John Barrett, Bernard Kearney, 
Patrick Heatherton, John McKinney, Michael J. Led- 
with, John Murray, Charles Bogan and Thomas Mc- 
Nair. Of the twenty who thus jx^rformetl this last 
corporal work of mercy, Ex- Judge Michael J.Ledwith, 
Charles Bogan (father of Rev. Bernard Moran 
Bogaji, of Plainfieldi, and John Kavanagh are the 
only persons living. 



54 




Rev. Joseph M. Nardiello 
Deacon of Honor at the Jubilee Mass 



CHAPTER XII 

Father Moran's Last Will 

The Will of Very Rev. Patrick Moran, V. G., was 
made on July 9th, 1863. It was written by himself, 
witnessed by Rev. Patrick Byrne and John J. Mooney, 
and probated on August 29th, 1866. The executors 
were Right Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley and Rev. 
James Moran. The document reads : 

"Being now in my 65th year and wishing to settle 
my temporal affairs and thereby free my mind and 
conscience from anxiety or care on that head, I give: 

"To the Right Rev. Catholic Bishop of the Diocese 
of Newark the certain Bond and Mortgage given to 
me by the Trustees of St. John's Church on the 
jjastoral residence, No. 30 Mulberry street, in said 
City, which I sold to them, being in the sum of Four 
Thousand Dollars together with the principal and 
interest thereon, to have and to hold, himself and his 
successors forever, in Trust for the solc^ objcn^t and 
purpos(\s of being api)lied, the interest only, towards 
the Education and support during the time of Educa- 
tion and no longer of a well dis])os(Ml religious youth 
who, Avith tlie approbation of liis Pastor and of the 
Bisho]) of tli(» l)i()ces(% will be inclined to study for 
the Sacred ]\Iinistry of tln^ Roman Catholic Church, 
and wliose ])arents may not be able to defray the 
ex[)ense of liis CoUegiate Edncaiion; proridvd tliat a< 



55 



all times and iu all cases (ceteris partibus) a youth 
who attends St. John's Sunday School and whose 
parents are members of St. John's Congregation shall 
have the i)reference. It is my express will and desire 
that when the Trustees of St. John's Church, or any 
other person or persons who shall have the right to 
administer the temporal affairs of said Church, shall 
pay over to the Right Rev. Bishop of the Diocese the 
Four Thousand Dollars due on the said Mortgage, 
that sum shall be by him (the Bishop) invested in 
some good and safe security and the interest thereon 
be applied from time to time as may be required 
towards the Education of a religious youth as herein 
before stated; and furthermore it is my will that 
on no account whatever, or under any pretext how- 
ever plausible, that can occur or may hereafter be 
devised or urged, shall the said principal and interest 
be appropriated to any other object than the educa- 
tion of a religious youth for the Holy Ministry of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and that it shall continue 
to be so applied so that when one youth shall have 
passed through the proper course of studies another 
may be appointed to succeed him, and so on for ever 
in accordance with the conditions of this bequest. As 
long as the Trustees of St. John's Church are dis- 
posed to pay and do punctually pay the interest on 
the Bond they ought not to be compelled to pay the 
principal. They might if necessary be required to 
renew the Bond." 

Another bequest made by him is the following: 
"I bequeath to my niece, Ann Coen, of Loughrea, in 
the County of Galway, Ireland, the sum of Two Hun- 
dred and Fifty Dollars, with my earnest recommenda- 
tion not to endanger her soul by coming to America." 



56 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Father Moran also provided that, after his debts 
and funeral expenses were paid, |120.00 be equally- 
distributed between six poor widows who attended 
St. John's Church (twenty dollars each) — those hav- 
ing the greatest number of children to be preferred. 
He also provided that the interest on |300.00 should 
be applied to the purchase of premium books for the 
children of St. John's Sunday School. He left |500.00 
to the Building Fund of St. Patrick's Cathedral; 
bequeathed books and library to his nephew, Rev. 
James Moran; to Seton Hall College he left books 
and bound papers. He also made these bequests : For 
decoration and improvement of St. John's Cemetery, 
1200.00; St. John's Circulating Library, |100.00; and 
the residue of his estate was to be divided equally 
between the Rev. James Moran and St. Mary's Orphan 
Asylum; but the |20.00 to each of the six widowis were 
to be paid before anything else ; and, if no money was 
left after these payments, the other legatees would 
have to accept "the will for the deed," and get along 
without it. His household furniture he gave to his 
two nieces, Sarah and Mary Ann Moran; and his 
Vestments, Chalice and other Church articles he 
bequeathed to St. John's Church, together with his 
library fixtures and other "cases" in the Rectory. 
"Lastly," said he, "I most humbly be(|ueath my soul 
to God my Creator, and confidently hoping for mercy 
and pardon of all my sins through the merits of our 
Blessed Redeemer, invoking the powerful intercession 
of our ever Immaculate Virgin INIary, ^lother of (lod, 
and awaiting in full resignation the awful summons 
of Divine will by d<^ath, I hereby sign my name 
and affix my seal in testimony of all the statements 
herein contained this ninth day of July, A. D. one 



57 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the pres- 
ence of the above named witnesses/' 

On July 24th, 1866, he added a Codicil and gave 
*'Two Thousand dollars in addition to the Mortgage 
of Four Thousand Dollars stated in the Will — the 
whole to be applied if possible to Burse for the 
perpetual education of a Clerical Student in Seton 
Hall College.*' 

On August 13th. 1866, Dr. William O'Gorman, 
Rev. J. H. Gervais and the Rev. Patrick Byrne 
testified ]>efore the Surrogate that they had witnessed 
the Will and Codicil. The estate was appraised at 
fl7,921.69. 



MM 



58 



CHAPTER XIII 

Father Moran's Portrait 

Father Moran never had a photograph taken of 
himself, so far as the author can learn after making 
a diligent investigation. In 1882, however, Michael 
J. Mullen, a newspaper writer, painted "a pen 
picture" of the famous Pastor of St. John's, and his 
story, from which excerpts are taken, is replete with 
interesting reminiscences and sparkles with examples 
of wit and wisdom. Quoting 

"A man he was to all the country dear." 

from Goldsmith, the veteran Newark journalist, who 
began his career in 1870 and who has just completed 
liis thirty-eighth consecutive year of fidelity to his 
honored profession, thus treats his subject: 

"One pleasant Sunday evening sixteen years ago 
(1866), a young lad fresh from his native village in 
the picturesque Mohawk Valley, New York, halted 
in front of St. John's Roman Catholic Church to 
listen to tlie Vesper Chimes. Often liad the sweet 
cadences of village bells fallen on his ear, and he had 
read and dreamed about the bells in convents and 
monasteries in far away climes, but never before had 
h(^ lieard the sacred harmony of 'bells annointed' 
calling the faithful to evening devotions. As the 
silver peals floated from t\\i^ (Church (owim- and the 
tuneful organ caught u\) i\w refrain, (he lad was 



59 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



thrilled with voiceless ecstacv. The youthful fancy 
saw pauoramic troops of veiled nuns and cowled 
friars hastening to the ancient vespertime service, and 
celestial music lent its harmony to the lovely picture. 

''Just as the vesper bells became silent, the lad was 
aroused from his reverie by a hand falling lightly on 
his shoulder. Looking up, he saw a broad and kindly 
face, and mild eyes set in a frame of silver gray hair. 
It was a venerable man of stout build, dressed in 
plain black cloth and wearing a broad brimmed hat, 
that the lad saw beside him. He questioned the lad, 
who replied that he was a Catholic, was new to the 
city life and had never before heard vesper bells, a 
church organ or a trained choir. The aged man led 
the way into the Church, gave the lad a seat in the 
centre aisle near the Main Altar and then passed into 
the Vestry. During the service, the venerable Priest 
reentered the Sanctuary, ascended the Altar stejxs; 
and a lady said to the inistic lad 'that is Very Rev. 
Father Moran,' the beloved Pastor of the Church. 

"Father Moran preached a brief but eloquent 
sermon on the effect of good and evil example on the 
youthful mind and impressed upon parents the sacred 
duty of rearing their children in Christian piety. 
The little ones, he said, should be taught to love truth, 
honor and virtue and to abhor vice, falsehood and 
false doctrine. He pictured in a fervent way the 
terrible consequences of a misspent life, which he con- 
trasted with a life passed in pious works, charitable 
deeds, and ending in Heavenly peace. After the 
Bemnliction of the Blessed Sacrament, the rustic 
lad passed into the night air alone with the holy 
aspirations inspired by the charming sermon and 
beautiful service. A few days afterwards he met the 



60 




Rev. Matthew J. Farley 
Celebrant of the Jubilee Mass 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

good Priest at the house of Michael Mulvey, the 
father of Prof. Martin Mulvey and an uncle of 
Michael J. Mullen, and was kindly greeted by the 
venerable man, whom he accompanied on his pastoral 
rounds — at the bedside of the invalid, in the 
tenements of the poor, and also to the comfortable 
homes of the well-to-do. The Priest brought sun- 
shine to every heart. On the street rich and poor, 
Protestant as well as Catholic, greeted the benevolent 
old Priest with loving respect. He had a cheery word 
for the aged, a pleasant smile for all, and a witty 
remark for the school boys and girls. It was with 
him as with Goldsmith's Village Pastor: 

'Even children followed with endearing wile, 

And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile.' 

"Father Moran possessed in a high degree that 
kindly charitable disposition, united to sound com- 
mon sense and profound learning in dogmas and 
philosophy of Catholicity, which tended to disarm 
prejudice and command respect. The primitive set- 
tlers were bitterly opposed to Catholicity, and 
Catholics were made to feel their isolation on many 
occasions. Father Moran brought about better rela- 
tions between all classes, and he lived to see the most 
bitter opponents of the Religion of the Cross recog- 
nize the potential influence of the Church in pro- 
moting and conserving the best interests of the home, 
the State and Nation. The Pastor of St. John's was 
a veritable genius — a Christian scholar, an architect, 
carpenter, carver, mason, lawyer and doctor; 'a eTack 
of all trades,' as lie would ex])ress it; but ]w was luns- 
ter of all which he would undertake, lie (UMesied 
fraud and hypocrisy and seized every ()]>portunity to 
expose and condemn them. On one occnsiou a IMire- 



61 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

nologist invited any one from the audience to step 
upon the platform and have his cranium examined. 
Father Moran arose and catechised the fellow who 
disclosed to the audience his lamentable want of 
knowledge; and the Priest's sallies of good humored 
witticisms at the expense of 'the investigator of bumps,' 
as he dubbed the lecturer, created a furor of laughter 
and applause — so much so in the estimation of the 
audience as to make it appear as if the 'investigator' 
would desire to crawl into a very small hole and pull 
in the hole after him." 

The Rev. Patrick Moran was skillful in disputation. 
Once a minister of one of the Protestant denomina- 
tions had the temerity to enter upon a controversy 
with him in the columns of the DuUij Advertiser, 
much to the aggressor's discomfiture. Then, (as 
related by Very Eev. Patrick Cody at the dinner 
tendered by the Rev. James P. Poels to the Right 
Rev. Bishop O'Connor and the Reverend Clergy, on 
the day of the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of 
St. John's I , an anonymous correspondent took up the 
cause of the vanquished minister and asked rather 
pointedly: "What would the Po}k^ of Rinne do if the 
Protestants went in a body to Rome to impose their 
form of religion on the people there, and what could 
the Pope's Bull do to prevent such a contingency?" 
Father Moran, replying, warned his antagonist not 
to go to Rome for his very life's sake, for said he, 
*'owing to your extreme verdancy some of the Pope's 
Bulls might come along, mistake you for a cabbage 
])lant and eat you up. Don't, then, venture, my dear 
friend, for if you do it will soon be all up with you.'' 
After this witty reply, the anonymous writer revealed 
himself by his proper name. He was none other than 



62 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Chief Justice Hornblower, of the Supreme Court of 
New Jersey, and he ridiculed the idea of anything like 
verdancy applying to him. Father Moran acknow- 
ledged this point and made a good natured apology. 
He and the Chief Justice became and ever after con- 
tinued to be warm personal friends. Father Moran 
possessed the happy faculty of presenting the sternest 
truths in his controversies without wounding the 
feelings of an antagonist. He was indeed severe but 
parliamentary ; like Sheridan : 

"His wit in the combat, as gentle as bright. 
Never carried a heart stain away on its blade." 






()3 



CHAPTER XIV 

Phrenology a False Science 

The story of Father Moran and the Phrenologist 
recalls to mind a discussion which the author had 
with the late Prof. Wells, of Fowler & Wells, 
PhrenologistvS, at their office in Broadway, New 
York city, in 1866. In 1859, Prof. Fowler and 
Prof. Wells, accompanied by Mrs. Fowler and Mrs. 
Wells, made a lecturing tour of Canada, and on the 
morning of Noyember 12th were trayelliug by the old 
By town and Prescott Railway, from Ottawa, on their 
way home to New York. A newsboy who carried 
fruit in season and out of season sold an apple to Prof. 
Wells, and when he came through the train again 
with his basket of periodicals, one of the ladies of 
the party said : "Professor, this is the lad who sold 
you that apple." With an assumed seyerity and a 
solemnity worthy of a yolume of the Pilgrinis 
Progress, the Professor shook his finger at the lad 
and said : ^^Dou't you know that in the yery core of 
that apple there was a liye creature?" The train was 
at one of the stations. The newsbo}' immediately 
replied: "You ought to be satisfied, sir; sure I 
did not charge you any more for it ;" and the entire 
car was conyulsed with laughter. It was on the 
Professor. Afterward, the lad discovered that the 
purchaser of the fruit was the celebrated Prof. Wells, 



64 







Deacon of the Jubilee Mass 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

of New York. Seven years later the author, who was 
taking a course of philosophy in St. Francis 
Xavier's College, went one evening to hear Prof. 
Wells deliver an* address before one of the Father 
Matthew societies which then flourished in New 
York. The professor had not as yet arrived, and 
some one must fill the gap. The author was intro- 
duced, and while addressing the audience Prof. Wells 
entered the hall and was next introduced. Before 
taking his departure, he shook hands with all of the 
gentlemen on the platform, "not forgetting the young 
Scotchman," as he expressed it. ^'You are mistaken, 
Professor, I am not Scotch.'' "English?" he asked. 
"No, sir." "American?" "No, sir." "Tlien what are 
you?" "I am Irish, sir, body and soul." "Thought 
you were Scotch when I heard you speaking." "Prof. 
Wells," said the author, "I had the pleasure of meet- 
ing you on a former occasion; but you don't remem- 
ber me." "Where?" He was told of the circum- 
stances of the sale of the apple in 1859 by the news- 
boy. "And are you that newsboy?" and added: "I have 
told of that instance of ready wit more than twenty 
times in my lectures." The professor and the former 
newsboy were ever after warm personal friends. 

In conversation one day the author said : "Professor 
Wells, Phrenology is a false science; your philosophy 
is a false philosophy. True philosophy will enable you 
not only to prove the logical elfect from the cause but 
enable you to trace the cause from \\w ed'ect. Phreno- 
logical philosophy Avill not enable you to do this. For 
exami)le, if the skulls of the two thiev(\s, who were 
crucified on Calvary with the KeckHMuer of mankind, 
were before you, the science of IMircMiology would not 
enable you to point out which was the sknll of the 



«5 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



penitent thief to whom Paradise was promised by our 
Bh'ssed Lord, or which was the skull of him who died 
impenitent. Both had lived sinful lives, were 
desperate criminals whose violation of the law was 
such as to merit for them an ignominious death by 
crucifixion. The bumps on their respective skulls, 
from the very nature of their lives, according to your 
philosophy, were evidently similarly developed. Your 
science, Professor, is a false science, because it ignores 
the grace of God operating in the soul; it does not 
take into account the free will with which Almighty 
God has endowed all mankind and of which even He 
cannot deprive His creatures. By the exercise of his 
free will a person who might have been a demon 
incarnate may become a saint in the twinkle of an eye, 
contingent of course upon his sorrow for his offenses 
and firm determination not to sin again; and, vice 
versa, a person who has lived a good life may fall and 
be lost forever — all through the operations of his own 
free will. By an act of his free will, however, a 
person cannot change the ^bumps^ on his cranium; 
can he, sir?" Professor Wells did not attempt to con- 
trovert this line of reasoning; how could he? As well 
might he succeed, should he attempt to blow a bag of 
feathers against a hurricane. 



G6 



CHAPTER XV 

Father Moran^s Successors 

After Very Rev. Patrick Moran's death, the follow- 
ing Priests were successively appointed Pastors of St. 
John's : Rev. James Moran, a nephew of the deceased 
Pastor, November, 1866; the Rev. Louis Schneider, 
appointed November, 1867; the Rev. Thomas M. 
Killeen, who built the rectory adjoining the Church, 
appointed in November, 1868; the Reverend Patrick 
Leonard, appointed Rector in 1877. The Rev. Louis 
Gamboisville, who personally and with great care and 
labor rewrote the Church's record of births and mar- 
riages from the foundation of the Parish to his time, 
succeeded Father Leonard when the latter became the 
first Rector of St, Michael's, on Belleville avenue. 
Father Gamboisville was a good and holy Priest, and 
a learned man. He possessed one of the best private 
libraries in the State. He was stricken at the x\ltar 
while offering up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass one 
Sunday morning in January, 1892, and breathed his 
last in the course of a few hours. Father (Jambois- 
ville was the second incumbent of St. John's to die. 
Two years ago the Rector and laity of St. John's 
erected a monument to the memory of Father Cnun- 
boisville in the Cemetery of the Holy Sepulchre, and 
the Sacred Heart and Holy Name Society decorated 
his grave and those of the Rev. Thomas ]M. KilUuMi 
and Father Leonard on the occasion of the Golden 



67 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Jubilee of the Consecration of the Chiircli.* Kev. 
James P. Poels, the present Pastor, has been Rector 
of the Church since February 27th, 1892; but in the 
interval between his appointment and the death of his 
immediate predecessor, the Rev. Thomas E. Wallace, 
Chancellor of the Diocese, administered the affairs 
of the Parish. The Assistant Rectors were the 
Rev. Father Gath, 1837; Rev. Roderick Ryder, 1838; 
Itev. Father Farrell, 1838; Rev. Father Bacon, 1838; 
Rev. Valentine Burgos, a Spaniard, to 1845; Rev. 
Francis Donahoe, July, 1845; Rev. John Shanahan, 
July, 1846, to May 9th, 1848 ; Rev. John Callan, May 
18th, 1848, to April 19th, 1849 ; Rev. Louis D. Senez, 
Sept. 1st, 1848, to March, 1850; Rev. Father Conroy, 
1852; Rev. Father McGuire, 1853; Rev. Father 
Tubberty, 1854; Rev. Father Casted, 1858; Rev. 
Father McCloskey, 1860; Rev. Patrick Byrne, 1861; 
Rev. James Moran, 1863; Rev. Dr. Wiseman, 1867; 
Rev. Father Rolando, 1867 ; Rev. Joseph M. Nardiello, 
1876; Rev. Isaac P. W^helan, 1878; Rev. George W. 
Corrigan, 1879; Rev. Michael J. White, 1882; Rev. 
Patrick McGahan, 1892; the late Rev. J. A. Fanning, 
D. D., 1893; the late Rev. John A. Dooley, 1894; Rev. 
Charles F. Marshall, 1898; the late Rev. Joseph P. 
M. A. McCormick, D. D., 1899; the Rev. A. M. 
Murphy, O. C. C, 1899; and the Rev. Benedictine 
Fathers Benedict, Bernard, Louis and Fidelis. 

• The era re of Very Rev. Patrick Moran was also decorated by the Society. 



68 




Rev. L.ouis Kusters 
Sub-Deacon of the Jubilee Mass 



CHAPTER XVI 

The Heroic Treatment 

The late Eev. Thomas M. Killeen, when Pastor, 
found it necessary at times to give lessons in heroic 
Christianity, and this example may be cited as 
evidence: After attending to his duties in the Con- 
fessional it was his custom to make the rounds of 
certain places every Saturday night and close them 
up before midnight. Returning to the parochial resi- 
dence one Saturday night, he was preparing to retire, 
when he heard the cry of "Murder !'' He rushed to the 
front and rear doors, but all was quiet. He returned 
to his library, and soon after the cry of "Murder !" was 
again heard. Father Killeen recognized the cry as 
coming from River street in the rear of his residence. 
He rushed out, scaled the fence and discovered a big, 
burly fellow in a semi-state of intoxication beating 
his consumptive wife. He seized the fellow, who 
turned upon the Priest. They clinched, and wrestled, 
resulting in the Priest gaining the mastery, throwing 
his adversary to the ground and sitting upon him 
while holding his hands. He asked several times, 
"Have you enough, and will you treat your wife 
respectfully hereafter?" The fellow finally said he 
would, if Father Killeen let him up. The Priest then 
relaxed his hold, whereupon the burly fellow grasped 
him by the throat. Then muscular Christianity again 



69 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



asserted itself. Father Killeen forced his adversary to 
the ground and began pummelling him; and with each 
successive blow, he would exclaim ''O you coward I" 
After receiving this treatment some time, the wife- 
!)eater finally acknowledged that he had received 
''enough,'' and he was profuse in his promises never 
more to abuse his wife. Father Killeen then started 
for the station house to have the fellow locked up, and 
on the way they met a policeman, who took the 
prisoner in charge. The culprit's sentence was thirty 
days in the County Jail. After five days imprison- 
ment he sent for Father Killeen, professed sorrow for 
his conduct, promised to care thereafter for wife and 
family, take the pledge and live for the remainder of 
his life as every good citizen should, if Father Killeen 
would only get him out of prison. The prisoner was 
liberated ; and, during the six years ensuing that he 
remained in St. John's Parish, he was in very fact 
a model husband. 




70 



1 



CHAPTER XVII 

Best Route to San Francisco 

Another case showing the characteristics of Father 
Killeen is evidenced by a man who was not a parish- 
ioner, and who had not approached the Sacraments 
for nearly ten years. He was a friend of the author 
and connected as ticket agent in Newark with 
one of the important railway lines. Time and 
again he would say, ^'I wish I had courage to approach 
the Tribunal of Penance." Arrangements were 
made whereby he promised to go to the Church of 
St. Francis Xavier, New York, to attend a Retreat, 
given for the Alumni Sodality, the practice of 
whose members is to receive Holy Communion in a 
body on the Sunday within the Octave of the Feast of 
the Immaculate Conception each year; but when the 
time came he lost courage. Four days before the 
ensuing festival of Christmas, Father Killeen's atten- 
tion was called to the case. ^^Get him down here," 
said tlie Priest, '^and I will attend to the rest." The 
Reverend Father was told to write a letter of inquiry, 
as to the shortest and best route to San Francisco, 
which he did. He inquired whetlier through pass(Mi- 
gers could have stoi)-over privileges either way at 
Omaha and Salt Lake City, stated that there were 
friends going, and he desired the information. This 
letter was handed to the agent, and he wislied to simuI 



71 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

his office boy to see the Priest. This the author said 
would not do, because if the Priest desired to see the 
office boy he would come in person instead of writing 
the letter of inquiry. Whereupon the author endorsed 

the document ^'Respectfully referred to who 

is the authorized ticket agent in Newark for the 
railroad and its connections for the West." 



It may be explained that at that period ticket agents 
were allowed five dollars commission on every through 
ticket to San Francisco sold from Newark or New 
York. The ticket agent proceeded to the parochial 
residence and was directed to go to the Vestry where 
he would find the Priest. Father Killeen was in the 
organ gallery, came down and engaged in conversation 
with the agent while they walked back to the 
rectory. The visitor was ushered into the library, and 
the Priest locked the door, as related to the author by 
his friend, who had wished to break the ice but had not 
the moral courage so to do without assistance. Then, 
as he related, ^'Father Killeen went into his room off 
the library and soon returned wearing a stole. He 
asked, *When were you at confession last?' ^Nearly 
ten years ago,' was the reply. 'I want you to go to 
confession now,' said the Priest. 'I will not,' said the 
agent; 'when I was learning my catechism I was 
taught to make preparations before approaching the 
Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion.' 'Do 
you mean to teach me my duty?' asked the Priest. 
'Down upon your knees, and I will hear your confess- 
ion.' 'I will not I' was the determined reply. Then 
rising in the fullness of his majesty. Father Killeen, 
his right hand pointing Heavenward, said 'In the name 
of God I command you to go down upon your knees 
and make your confession.^ When he thus addressed 



72 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



me I sank to my knees, and after getting through, he 
offered me a glass of wine. Paul, give me your 
hand; you are the best friend I have in the world." 
The penitent gave evidence of his sincerity, and dili- 
gently complied with the Ordinances of the Church 
for several years. He has been called to render an 
account before the Tribunal of Justice; let us hope 
that on the last Great Day he may be numbered with 
the elect. 






73 



CHAPTER XMII 

An Irish Immigrant's Sacrifice 



From consideration of these examples, it is pleasing 
to turn to the storv of an Irish immigrant who 
arrived at Castle Garden in the early Forties, and who 
was strong in the Faith and made heroic sacrifices 
to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It was 
the privilege of the author to make the acquaintance 
of Patrick Regan, father «>f former Collector and Tax 
Commissioner Thomas J. Regan, forty-one years ago. 
On his arrival at Castle Garden, Regan met the 
Rev. Mr. Rankin, then Pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church, at Basking Ridge, Somerset County, who 
desired to engage the services of a stone mason — an 
avocation followed by the immigrant. The Dominie 
engaged Mr. Regan to construct a stone wall around 
the church yard and cemetery of the Presbyterian 
Church, at Basking Ridge, and that wall still stands. 
An extension was added in 1907; the contractors were 
the brothers Edward M. and Samuel P. Waldron. 
When Regan arrived at Basking Ridge, sleeping 
apartments were assigned to him in a barn near the 
parsonage. The following Saturday he inquired of 
Dominie Rankin where he could hear Mass the follow- 
ing day. He said he had never wilfully missed atten- 
dance at the Holy Sacrifice. The Dominie informed 
him, "there is no Mass hereabouts, Patrick, but there 




Rev. James P. Lundy 
Preacher at the Jubilee Mass and Celebrant at Vespers 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

is a Catholic Church in Mulberry street, Newark/' 
"Well," replied the Irish immigrant, "in the name 
of God I'll start for Mass early in the morning." 
Accordingly, he arose at two A. M. and began his 
journey on foot to Newark, a distance of nearly thirty- 
five miles. He arrived at St. John's Church in time for 
the 10.30 o'clock Mass, the first Mass in America at 
which he assisted. After Divine Service, he retraced 
his journey to the old Colonial village, and arrived at 
the Presbyterian parsonage shortly after eight o'clock 
in the evening. During the time of his employment 
by Dominie Rankin, he continued to hear Mass with 
regularity every Sunday at St. John's, making the 
journey on foot. The Rev. Mr. Rankin often mar- 
veled at the heroic Christianity and sturdy Celtic 
faith of the young Irish stone mason. 

What a lesson for the Catholic people of the 
Twentieth Century is not the living faith of which 
the Irish immigrant has given evidence? He was 
neither a feather bed soldier of the Cross nor a skulker 
in the ranks of the great army of the Church 
Militant. He professed a lively faith and ever gave 
evidence by example of his professions. Would that 
all had imitated his example. If they had, many who 
have strayed away would have been saved to the 
Church. 



^o 



CHAPTER XIX 

Father Poers Good Work 

The present Pastor of St. John's is an Irremovable 
Rector. He possesses keen financial and executive 
ability. He left Boonton in 1892, where he was greatly 
beloved by the people without regard to religious or 
racial predelictions, and came to St. John's whose 
parishioners received him with a genuine cead mile 
failte! His people have never had reason to repent 
the confidence first reposed in him. He won their 
hearts and possesses them fully to-day. Prior to the 
panic in the early Seventies, vast improvements were 
made in the Church property. The new rectory was 
built, the Church, old rectory and school house reno- 
vated. When the new rectory was completed at a 
cost of 120,000 the old building South of the Church 
was fitted up as a residence for the Sisters of St. 
Joseph who were brought from Chestnut Hill, Phila- 
delphia, and installed teachers in the Parochial 
Schools. These improvements were necessary, and 
when they were begun, times were prosperous. When 
the financial panic came, business throughout the 
entire country suffered. There was a large debt upon 
St. John's Parish which could not have been fore- 
seen, and this confronted Father Poels when he took 
possession of his new charge. 

One of his first acts was to take the parishioners 



76 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

into his confidence. He called a meeting in the school 
hall and plans were fully discussed by Priest and 
people, by which the debt could be liquidated; and, 
through the Eector's keen financial ability and the 
renewed generosity of the people, this has been 
accomplished. The Church property has been entirely 
renovated and improvements made, until to-day the 
Parochial buildings without exception are in perfect 
condition and free of debt. The old Church has been 
beautified within and without, and is the pride and 
glory of the Parish. These developments in the tem- 
poral order, it is to be sincerely and earnestly 
hoped, have been eclipsed by the growth in the 
spiritual order. The Pastor has ever been a faithful 
shepherd of his flock, and he and his people are one. 
Exhorting in season and out of season, by his example 
and constantly unfailing kindness and charity he has 
renewed the spirit of his people. His school is his 
pride, for it shows in its results the fruits of his 
unceasing care. His work has been blessed and has 
prospered. In a word, the affection of his people is 
his, for he has ever shown himself their father, 
counsellor and guide. 



1 1 



CHAPTER XX 

The Parochial Societies 

It would be the esteemed and very pleasing duty 
for the author to write of the labors and virtues of 
the Kev. Fathers Benedictine who have from time to 
time been "helpers" to Father Poels, and especially 
Father Fidelis, the present eloquent preacher and 
zealous worker who is laboring to win souls to God. 
But this pleasure must be omitted, for to sing the 
praises of those who drink inspiration while meditat- 
ing at the foot of the Cross and whose daily life is a 
continual sermon, might wound their humility and 
add to their manifold tribulations. 

Mention must be made, however, of Father Fidelis' 
zeal in promoting the spiritual wants of the men of 
the Parish, most of whom are enrolled in the ranks of 
"St. John's Sacred Heart and Holy Name Society." 
During a Mission conducted by Fathers Tissot and 
Hickspiel of the Society of Jesus, (May 30th to June 
15th, 1874), a Sacred Heart Society, with a member- 
ship of sixty-three, was instituted; but, after Father 
Killeen had been transferred at his own request 
to St. Mary's, Bergen Point, the organization 
was disbanded. Father Poels revived the Sacred 
Heart Society; and it continued some years with 
more or less success. When Father Fidelis became a 
"helper," the Pastor appointed him Spiritual Director 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 

of the "Sacred Heart Society," and since then its 
career has been one of prosperity. In response to 
the Circular-Letter issued about two years ago by the 
Right Reverend Ordinary of the Diocese to the Very 
Reverend and Reverend Clergy, in which they w^ere 
earnestly exhorted to establish a Society of the Holy 
Name in their respective Parishes, a branch was 
formed in St. John's and merged with the Sacred 
Heart, under the title of "St. John's Sacred Heart 
and Holy Name Society." In the public parade of 
the Holy Name Society in 1907, some ten thousand 
Catholic gentlemen marched through the streets of 
Newark; and, of this number, about two hundred 
represented Old St. John's. Similar demonstrations 
were made in Jersey City, Pater son, Elizabeth and 
other important sections of the Diocese, to the 
edification of thousands of our separated brethren 
who were loud in their praises of the Roman Catholic 
Church for thus publicly protesting against the 
profanity, blasphemy and immorality of the age. A 
few Protestant gentlemen took part in the procession 
in this city, including Police Justice David T. Howell. 
Individual members of the Holy Name Society have 
another duty to perform besides taking part in 
parades, approaching the Sacraments at stated times 
and refraining from blasphemy and profanity — 
when walking along the highways and byways or 
employed at their daily labors, let them uncover their 
heads whenever they hear the Name of God 
taken in vain or the Holy Name blaspliemed, raise 
their liearts to Heaven and say "Blessed be tlie Name 
of (lod," or "Bl(\ssed be the Name of Jesus," as the 
occasion rei^uinss. Thus will lhi\v olVer a slight 
reparation for the insults of blasi)heiners. This was 



79 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

the advice which that renowned Missionary Priest, 
Father Smarius, of the Society of Jesus, imparted 
nearly forty-three years ago when giving a Retreat 
for the students and professors of the College of St. 
Francis Xavier, New York ; and the author has ever 
remembered that lesson. The humblest member of 
the Holy Name Society can exercise influence for 
good; and this is an example: Seven months ago a 
respected Protestant of this city, a professional man, 
was with a party of friends in a public cafe enjoying 
social amenities when the author entered and 
was invited to join the circle. The Protestant 
resumed the relation of a story which he had 
been telling and embellished the tale by blas- 
pheming the Holy Name and profaning the Name 
of God. It would seem as though the devils in hell 
possessed him. The diarrhoea of blasphemies rolled 
fast from his lips. When he was taken to task, he 
excused himself on the plea that he gave the matter 
no consideration; but he finally promised thereafter 
to hold himself in check. Four months later we met 
on the public highways. Said he, ^^I have not joined 
the Holy Name Society as yet; but you have done 
one good thing in your life. I promised you that I 
would guard the tongue, and since that night I have 
not cursed or swore or blasphemed the Holy Name or 
taken God's Name in vain. I am determined never 
more to relapse into that bad habit. When I think of 
the profane habit now, how loathsome is it not to 
me I" We have since met, and that Protestant has the 
same good report to make; and not only has he 
avoided cursing, swearing and blaspheming, but he is 
breaking himself of the habit of relating filthy stories. 
**Sometimes,'' said he, "I forget myself, but when I 



80 




Rev. Bernard Moran Bogan 
Preacher at the Vesper Service 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

think of the Holy Name Society I stop short; so you 
see I am not such a bad fellow after all." 

Many other examples might be cited, but one or 
two will suffice. While spending an evening with the 
late Bishop Wigger twenty-four years ago, at Seton 
Hall College, the author called his attention to the 
case of a certain Catholic friend who was prominent 
in municipal and State politics, and to whom viola- 
tions of the Second Commandment seemed to be a 
second nature. "The poor fellow,'' the Bishop was 
told, "says he tries hard to break off the habit, but 
he can't help it because he is so forgetful of his good 
resolutions." Bishop Wigger replied: "Say to him 
that every time he swears or blasphemes let him fine 
himself — take ten cents out of one pocket, put it into 
another and give the money to the poor. Let him do 
this and he will soon break himself of the habit, for 
there is nothing which appeals to the heart and con- 
science of some men and tends to refresh the memory 
like touching the pocketbook." This remedy was 
suggested to the Democratic politician and he accepted 
it with beneficial results. The second case is that of 
a wealthy Protestant, a Newarker, witli whom the 
author had business relations. He, too, was profane 
from habit. The Bishop's antidote for profanity was 
suggested to him and he promised to apply it. The 
next time we met, he profaned the Name of God five 
times in rapid succession ; whereupon the author, with 
extended hand, requested, "fifty cents, please!" The 
silver coin was handed out, and on the following 
Sunday, it helped to increase the basket collection 
taken up in Old St. John's. The exaction of the fine 
worked like a charm; and from then until now, a 
period of seventeen years, tluit man is not known to 



81 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

have violated the Second Commandment. Bishop 
Wigger's antidote for profanity and other bad habits 
is the quintessence of simplicity. Persons in all the 
walks of life may practice it with profit to themselves. 
Let members of the Holy Name Society who may read 
this History of St. John's recommend the antidote as 
occasions arise, for its practical application not only 
will not cost much, but will tend to promote the 
greater glory of Almighty God. 

The officers of St. John's Sacred Heart and Holy 
Name Society are Father Fidelis, O. S. B., Honorary 
President and Spiritual Director; Bernard J. Farley, 
Vice-President; Miles F. Quinn, Treasurer; William 
J. Hagan, Secretary; and Charles Lounsbury, 
Marshal. The Sacred Heart League, another society, 
has a membership of three hundred. 

There are other Avell organized societies in the 
Parish. The "Sodality of the Children of Mary" is 
well calculated to promote the spiritual wants of its 
members. It is composed of young ladies, eighty of 
whom are enrolled in the ranks; and the officers for 
1908 are: Miss Mary Murphy, President; Miss Kath- 
erine R. Gaul, Vice-President; Miss Susan Barrett, 
Secretary ; Miss Margaret M. Deegan, Treasurer ; Miss 
Anna L. Sharkey, Sacristan; and Father Fidelis, O. 
S. B., Spiritual Director. The Living Rosary Society 
has also a membership of eighty and is composed 
principally of married women; but there are 
unmarried women in the ranks. For the children 
there are two societies — "St. Aloysius Sodality" for 
boys, and the "Holy Angels' Sodality" for girls. The 
officers of St. Aloysius Sodality for 1908 are : Francis 
Moore, President ; John Farrell, Vice-President ; and 
Farrell Reilly, Secretary. The officers of the Holy 



82 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Angels' Sodality are: Annette Sharkey, President; 
Mary Moehler, Vice-President; and Loentine Bosch- 
man, Treasurer. It is an interesting fact that, of 
the two hundred and twenty-five Parochial children, 
only fifteen attend the Public Schools. The census 
shows a population approximating eleven hundred 
souls — men, women and children; but all do not 
reside within the parochial lines of St. John's. Some 
live within the confines of St. James', St. Bridget's, St. 
Patrick's, the Holy Cross. They cannot forget their 
love for the old Church but continue in affiliation 
with her. St. John's Parish was dedicated to the 
Sacred Heart of Jesus one year anterior to the 
dedication of all the other Parishes existing in the See 
of Newark, then comprising the State of New Jersey. 






83 



CHAPTER XXI 

The Sisters of St. Joseph 

A History of St. John's without a reference to the 
work done bv the Sisters of St. Joseph would be very 
incomplete. Since they first came in 1872 from the 
Mother House in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, they 
have nobly done their part in the Parochial Schools. 
Day after day, quietly, unostentatiously, yet ever 
effectually, have they worked, training the little ones, 
planting the seeds of truth and virtue in their minds 
and hearts, leading them by their never failing gentle- 
ness and sympathy, and above all by the example of 
their holy, self-sacrificing, laborious lives. The sick 
and the poor love them also, for the good Sisters have 
cared for them, have comforted them and aided them, 
have not forgotten them. To all the Parish they have 
been an inspiration, and it is but meet and proper 
that they should have their place in the list of the 
Church's helpers. 

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph had 
its origin in the city of LePuy, Province of Auvergne, 
France, in 1650. Its founder was Rev. J. P. Medaille, 
S. J., who gathered a number of young ladies in the 
house of a pious widow named LeJoux and organized 
them into a community, under Rules to which the 
Right Rev. Mgr. de IMaupas, Bishop of LePuy, gave 
his sanction, and he placed them in charge of his 



84 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 

Orphan Asylum on October 15th. The lives of the 
Sisters are contemplative, educational and charitable. 
In the French Revolution the Congregation met the 
fate of all the religious orders and communities — 
desolation and destruction. Mother St. John 
Fontbonne wa® Superioress of the Orphanage at 
Monistrol, when the Revolution broke out. Im- 
prisoned because she would not consent to kneel at 
the Mass of an apostate priest, which she was forced 
to attend, she was sentenced to death, but on the 
morning set for her execution, she was set free because 
of the downfall of Robespierre the previous night. 

In 1807, Mother St. John was called to the city of 
Saint Etienne, to resume her work, and on August 
7th, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 
was founded anew, and on a broader basis. Ere 
long a community of the Congregation was estab- 
lished in Lyons, to which the Mother House was 
transferred in 1816. In 1834, Bishop Rosati, of St. 
Louis, Mo., visited Lyons and applied for permission 
to take some of the members of the Congregation to 
America. Six of the Sisters sailed from Havi'e 
for New Orleans, on January 17th, 1836, and arrived 
after a voyage of nearly fifty days. From New 
Orleans they proceeded to St. Louis. The Con- 
gregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph spread rapidly 
through the West. In 1847, the Philadelphia 
Province of the Congregation was permanently estab- 
lished, wlien tlie Bisliop* scH'ured a few of the Sisters 
to take charge of St. John's Male Orphan Asylum, 
then occupying the building on the North side of 
Chestnut street — now the site of the Free Library — 
in which a Novitiate was established. The first 

•Bishop NouDiaDD. 



85 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Superioress was Mother St. John Fournier, whose 
first mission was in St. Louis after her arrival from 
France in 1837. She was recalled U> St. Louis in 
1850; but at the urgent request of Bishop Neumann 
she returned to Philadelphia in May, 1853. In 1854 
the Novitiate was transferred to McShenytown, 
Adams County — a house formerly occupied by Ladies 
of the Sacred Heart After four years, the beautiful 
property at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, was pur- 
chased; and to this place the Mother House with 
Novitiate was transferred on August 16th, 1858. 
Bishop Neumann visited the Convent August 21st; 
it was blessed and named Mt. St. Joseph, August 21th. 




86 



CHAPTER XXII 

Laborers in the Vineyard 

St. John's has sent out her full measure of children 
into the Vineyard of the Lord. Sisters and Priests in 
goodly number look back to Old St. John's as the 
cradle of their birth in the Faith. In her schools 
they received their first education. At her Altar 
they received the Sacraments; they turned back at 
the time of Jubilee with joy in their hearts — rejoicing 
in her triumph, happy in her glory. Among the 
many sons she has sent to God's service in the spread- 
ing of the Gospel, the most illustrious was His Grace, 
Most Rev. Michael Augustine Corrigan, D. D., late 
Archbishop of New York. It was in St. John's Parish 
that that saintly soul, that prototype of St. Francis 
de Sales, first saw the light of day and first heard the 
word of God. It was there that his brilliant mind 
was first taught the elements of learning; and his 
heart led him to know and love the beauty of virtue. 
Throughout his life he ever cherished the old Church 
— the Church of his childhood, the Church of his 
father and mother. Two brothers of Archbishop 
Corrigan, also embraced the Priesthood, the late Very 
Rev. James II. Corrigan who for several years was 
Vice-President of Seton Hall, and the Rev. George 
W. Corrigan, Rector of St. Jose])h's, this city. It was 
the author's privilege to assist in St. elohn's at the 



87 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

first Mass celebrated bj Father James H. Corrigan. 

Others sent forth from this Parish to preach the 
Gospel were the late Rev. Martin O'Connor, Rector of 
St. Mary's Cathedral, Peoria, Illinois, and Chancel- 
lor of that Diocese; the Rev. Matthew Farley, 
Assistant at St. Joseph's, Jersey City; Rev. James 
A. Lundy, Assistant at St. Patrick's, Elizabeth. 
Daniel G. Durning, a son of Charles Durning and 
a brother of John C. Durning, who was born, baptized 
and brought up in St John's Parish, was the first 
native of New Jersey who was raised to the Priest- 
hood. He was ordained by Bishop Hughes, and for 
some time was the Bishop's Secretary. Father 
Durning died many years ago. From an old photo- 
graph which has been kindly loaned, the author is 
enabled to print Father Durning's portrait. 

The late Rev. John Tighe, Rector of St. Paul's, 
Greenville, Jersey City ; Rev. Bernard Moran Bogan, 
Rector of St. Mary's, Plainfield; Rev. John Callahan, 
Rector of Help of Christians, East Orange; and Rev. 
William Richmond, Rector of Our Lady of Good 
Counsel, Newark, were baptized in St. John's. 

Rev. John J. Connelly, who died some years ago 
when Pastor of St. Mary's Church, Plainfield, and 
his brother, City Clerk James F. Connelly, of 
Newark, served as altar boys in St. John's. After 
St. James was created, the family moved into the 
new Parish. Father Connelly began his studies for 
the Priesthood in St Charles, Endicott City, Md., 
but in the eariy days of the Civil War that institution 
was closed. He then entered Seton Hall and was 
one of the eariy graduates. After his Ordination he 
was sent to St. Mary's, Jersey City, and when the 
late Father Senez visited his native land in 1866, 



88 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Father Connelly administered the Parish in the 
Pastor's absence. From Jersey City he was sent to 
Plain field. It is related of him that he was the only 
ecclesiastic in Holy Orders who had preached in the 
Churches of St. Joseph, St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral 
and St. James, in this city, before his elevation to 
the Priesthood. Father Connelly was an orator — a 
family trait. His brother, James F., was a member 
of St. John's Debating Society. Father Connelly was 
born in Sussex County, and died at the age of twenty- 
seven years. 




89 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



THREE PASTORS OF ST. JOHN'S. 

In Old St. John's in years long past, through many weary day, 

The first young Pastor preached and pray'd, and gently led the way. 

And early in his pastorate he made a law and rule 

That all the children (Catholic) should go to Sunday School. 

As Pastor he was kind and true, beloved by us all ; 

In sickness and in troublous times was prompt to every call. 

To gently chide the erring one and turn him from his way, 

A faithful shepherd watching all, lest one should go astray. 

Thus active, vigilant and brave, in Newark's little town, 

Before it was a city named of national renown ; 

The welfare of his people and their sorrows all to know 

Was the all-absorbing duty of Gregory B. Pardow. 

Another Pastor of St. John's, I do remember well — 

The volume should be very large to half his virtues tell — 

Enlarged the Church and, likewise, built the first parochial school, 

Where prayer before arithmetic was made a standing rule. 

He said the conscience should be trained to guide impulsive youth. 

To set him on a pure career of honesty and truth. 

Thirty-four years of faithful work, his ever manly course, 

His controversial tilts at times, maintained with crushing force; 

His logic clear, sometimes severe, and keenly pointed wit. 

The adversary would confess to many a happy hit. 

His whole career, so cut and clear, to mark a noble man, 

And give characteristic note of the Reverend P. Moran. 

Anon, another Pastor appears in the old place, 
An energetic working man, an honor to his race. 
He preached and pray'd, but set at work to renovate the plant. 
No idle task, as was foreseen, to compass every want; 
The Church, parochial residence, the Sisters' house, the schools. 
To brighten up and beautify in pace with modern rules. 
This is the way, the very way, to stimulate the mind 
Of young and old, of maid and man, the all of human kind. 
Example set ! — push on the work, nor ever fear to fail, 
The breeze, like Father Poel'.s bark, will fill out every sail — 
Will bear you swiftly on the wave and safely o'er the sea. 
Until you anchor at the port, from storm and danger free. 
So here's a toast to old St. John's and to the Pastor new. 
Whose work and worth and active faith 'tis pleasant to review. 

Celt. 



90 



CHAPTER XXIII 

The "New Light Movement" 

It will be remembered that what was known as the 
"New Light Movement" was started in Ireland by 
zealots of the Established Church of England in the 
days of the famine, and when Typhus Fever and 
Asiatic Cholera raged in the land. The "New Lights" 
were proselytizers. What bribes, the sword, the bay- 
onet and proscription, the vilest persecutions, could 
not accomplish, the proselytizers hoped to gain — to 
reach the soul through the stomachs of the starving 
and famished people. Provisions and weekly stipends 
of money were offered as the price of apostasy. The 
author well remembers those days. As a matter of 
fact only twenty-three, by actual count, were all that 
the "New Lights" could muster on the only occasion 
when a public profession was required of the apos- 
tates in the vicinity of Abbeyfeale ; and there was not 
a Limerick apostate in the ranks — all came from the 
County Kerry to attend service in the Episcopal 
Church located about half a mile from Abbeyfeale, 
County Limerick. 

Ireland has complained of British injustici^^ — that 
she has suffered the Avholesale eviction of her families 
without cause or provocation — that her diildren have 
been robbed and they, the lords of the soil, driven 
from their homes to make room for pasturing cattle 



91 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

— that her Relijjjion has bcn^n proscribed — that her 
Bishops and Priests have been hunted down like wild 
beasts and a price set upon their heads. Why these 
p<»rsecutions? The answer is twofold : Love of God 
and Love of Country. Ireland would not apostatize 
from the faith preached upon the hills of Tara by 
the Apostle of the Irish Nation. Fidelity to the 
Church only exceeded love of Country. Indeed these 
two loves might be said to be so closely entwined in 
the Irish people as if to appear coexisting in their 
very nature — that God and Country is the motto 
indelibly inscribed in their heart and mind. 
Patriotism without religion is like a body without a 
soul ; and if what an eminent writer says is true — 
that "the only difference between a noble and a mean 
creature is the love of freedom,'- then the Irish race 
may be called with pardonable pride "God's Own 
Nobility." Surely there is a just Tribunal before 
which nations as well as individuals must render an 
exact account — surely there will be a day of retribu- 
tion; and on that day when Ireland shall stand in 
presence of that Tribunal and demand justice for her 
martyred children, rather would the author be found 
among the oppressed and the enslaved than be 
counted with the rulers and the oppressors. 

The Irish people still cherish the "Spirit of a 
Nation'' — adherence to Faith and love of Freedom 
— and although overpowered they have never been 
subdued — although enslaved they have never con- 
81^'nted to wear the yoke of the oppressor. They may 
be dreamers ; but they fondly hope and firmly believe 
that Ireland's day of emancipation is not far distant 
when Kobert Emmett's Epitaph will be written. In 



92 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 



connection with the "New Light Movement," the 
following may be found interesting: 

On Good Friday, 1849, the author's father died 
of the Asiatic scourge; and, a few days later, 
the parson called at our home. He offered mother 
half a crown a week for herself, a shilling a 
week for the eldest son, ten pence a week for 
the second eldest, six pence a week for the third, four 
pence a week for the fourth; but all that the body 
and soul of the author, then not five years old, was con- 
sidered worth to the Church of England, established 
by Act of Parliament, was two pence a week! The 
souls of a sister and a fifteen months' old brother 
were of no value in the parson's sight. Of course the 
payment of the sums named was contingent upon 
apostasy from the Faith. The widowed mother, God 
rest her soul, seized a blackthorn stick and laid it fast 
and heavy upon the parson's back until he beat a 
hasty retreat. She has passed away. Her death was 
sudden; but even for that one heroic act of faith, 
there is an abiding hope that mercy was shown to her 
when her soul was summoned to appear before the 
Tribunal of Justice. The Rev. Mr. Hamilton, the 
father of George Hamilton, of John Mullins & Son, 
furniture dealers, Market street, and of the late 
Colonel William H. Hamilton, who conducted furni- 
ture stores in Market and Broad streets, Newark, 
some years ago, was the "rural dean" at that time 
in the part of Ireland in which Abbeyfeale is located. 
Colonel Hamilton, a few years ago, assured the 
writer that his father never favored the "New Light 
Movement." 



93 



CHAPTER XXIV 

Catholic Education 

About ninety years ago only a few Irish Catholics 
were settlers in Newark. They were poor and had 
but little or no education. Was it their fault? 
Rather was it not their misfortune? The people of 
Ireland had been ruled for centuries by aliens who 
robbed and plundered them. In the palmy days of 
Anglicanism in Ireland Catholic education was 
proscribed by Act of the British Parliament, and the 
penalty for violation of the "law" was death I That 
Act has never been repealed. It remains still upon the 
British Statute Book — a monument to the infamy and 
intolerance of a so-called enlightened nation! The 
civilization of the Twentieth Century must contem- 
plate with horror and amazement that a nation which 
boasts of its superior civilization should attempt to 
keep a portion of its people in ignorance — retard the 
march of intellect, the development of the human 
mind. Bishops, Priests and schoolmasters who dared 
to discharge their duties to God and their fellow men 
were hunted down and put to death as if they were 
public malefactors. What an absurdity is it not for 
the enemies of the Irish people to accuse us of 
"poverty and ignorance,'^ when Great Britain is the 
author of the policies which produced both? When 
the Irish settlers in Newark came to America, 



94 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

they were determined that their children should 
enjoy the privilege of education that had been 
denied to themselves. The few who had some educa- 
tion taught their children and the children of others 
to read, write and figure. These instructions were 
given at their homes. In the early Twenties, Edward 
Quinn, a classical scholar, who settled in Newark, 
gave lessons to children and young men and women. 

The Catholic Church has ever shown a consuming 
zeal in the education of youth. They will never cease 
to draw a responsive echo from her heart. They have 
been her watchword in all her struggles for Christian 
Education. Open the pages of her Councils, and you 
will find there the loving words of her Master : "Suffer 
the little ones to come unto me and do not prevent 
them.'' This is strongly in evidence in the case of the 
American Bishops, assembled for the first time in 
Plenary Council. Those tender pleadings of the 
Master's voice constitute the warrant for urging 
everywhere the establishment of Parish Schools. 
Again, in another Plenary Council of Baltimore the 
same language — for truth is unchanging — reappears. 
In the Pastoral Letter, the Bishops give two reasons 
for sending children to Catholic Schools: First, 
because of their conviction that religious teach- 
ing and religious training should form part of every 
system of school education. The intrinsic reason of 
their conviction, however, is this : Religion, or God's 
revealed truth, is like the light of the Sun which sheds 
its rays broadcast over hill and valley, sea and river. 
One in itself, its radiance is universal. All nature 
reflects the splendor of its beauty. So, whatever 
truth there is in this world, in science or in art, what- 
ever true progress in humanity, is a reflection of 



95 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Divine Truth and has relations with it ; for truth can- 
not contradict itself, neither can its teachings be at 
variance. Therefore to exclude religion from education 
would be like cutting off the air that we breathe, like 
proscribing the light when we go forth in the sun- 
shine. To exclude religion from the School, we must 
banish God from His own creation, so that the course 
of human events, the product of human thought, shall 
no longer be necessarily bound up in Him "in Whom 
we move and live and have our being.-' Besides this 
reason, drawn from the very nature of the case, the 
Fathers of Baltimore affirm that every day's experi- 
ence renders it evident that to develop the intellect 
and store it with knowledge, while the heart and its 
affections are left without the control of religious 
principles sustained by religious practices, is to pre- 
pare for parent and child the most bitter disappoint- 
ment in the future, and for society the most disastrous 
results. Thus did the Plenary Councils of Baltimore 
place the seal of approval upon the educational work 
of the late Very Kev. Patrick Moran. 

The Catholics of the Diocese of Newark, as well as 
our co-religionists of the other Sees throughout the 
United States, are deserving of the greatest praise for 
the sacrifices which they are making to promote the 
cause of Christian Education. This work is being 
prosecutM earnestly and zealously and successfully 
but unostentatiously. There is no blowing of trum- 
pets or beating of tom toms to attract attention. To 
encourage knowledge, the handmaid of Religion, is 
regarded as a work of duty and of love. From time 
to time we read in the daily press of munificent 
individual contributions made by wealthy Protestants 
to the endowment funds of non-Catholic Colleges and 



96 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Universities, whose systems are barren of education ; 
and public institutions in which the name of God is 
rarely if ever mentioned are erected and conducted at 
the expense of the taxpayers. The gifts of individual 
Protestants represent sums ranging from thousands 
and hundreds of thousands of dollars into the 
millions. But seldom do we read of any wealthy 
Catholics contributing miunificent sums to Catholic 
Colleges and Universities. While this is regrettable, 
still the Catholic people are doing their full measure 
of duty — making heroic sacrifices to keep the lamp 
of true science burning; and this is strikingly 
evidenced by the statistics of the Official Catholic 
Directory for 1908. There are between 30,000 and 
35,000 Religious' engaged in teaching in this country ; 
and, calculating that $500 a year as about what each 
should receive for individual services, we have a 
figure of at least |15,000,000 per annum. This sum, 
if capitalized at the moderate interest rate of five 
per cent., makes an endowment fund of $300,000,000 
invested to promote thei cause of Catholic education 
in this country; and the figure is conservative. Dr. 
James J. Walsh, who is one of the most brilliant 
Catholic minds in America, recently called the 
attention of the members of the Xavier Alumni 
Sodality, of New York, to these figures; and, 
speaking of the progress of Catholicity in the United 
States during the past century, he said that "every 
five miles along the Hudson lliver there is a handsome 
Catholic institution,'' and that "the same thing is 
practically true as regards the Pennsylvania Railroad 
between New York and Philadelphia.'' 



97 



CHAPTER XXV 

A Most Remarkable Speech by Dr. Woodrow Wilson, 
President of Princeton University 

The most remarkable speech, made upon education 
during the school year, 1907-8, was given by Woodrow 
Wilson, President of Princeton University, on the 
occasion of the Convention of the Association of 
Colleges and Preparatory Schools of the Middle 
States and Maryland, held in the College of the City 
of New York, on November 29th, 1907. Mr. Wilson 
made this remarkable statement: 

"I have been teaching now for nearly twenty years. I have been 
conducting Classroom Exercises for nearly twenty years, and / 
don't think I have been teaching any appreciable portion of that 
time. I have been delivering lectures which I meant to be 
interesting, and the result has been that my pupils for the most 
part have remembered my stories and forgotten my lectures. IVe 
have just passed through a period abounding in pedagogical theories. 
We have been doing nothing else but making experiments upon 
lads and youths for the purpose of testing some new fanglcd notions, 
which we put forth more out of intellectual curiosity than of deep 
conviction. You know perfectly well what the result has been ; 
you know that the children of the past two or three decades in 
our Schools have not been educated. You know that with all our 
teaching we train nobody; you know that with all our 

INSTRUCTION WE EDUCATE NOBODY." 

Here is a tremendous indictment against the 
non-Catholic educational methods in every grade 
of school, from the Grammar to the University. 
Tliroucjiiout his whole discourse* the President of 
Princeton University enforced the proposition with 
which he had begun. For several decades our great 



98 



HISTORY OF Sr. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Colleges and Universities, he said, have been 
educating nobody. A vast amount of information 
has been imparted, but no real education has been 
accomplished. Dr. Wilson proposed that the way to 
educate is to have a set of formative subjects: 
Language and Literature, Science and Mathematics, 
History and Philosophy. Assign your task to each 
of these, and as your task becomes easy, substitute 
something more difficult in the same line. Train the 
mind, and every faculty of the mind, by exercise in 
these formative studies, and at the end of your four 
years of High School and your four years of College 
you will have an educated man. 

What President Wilson so vehemently desired to 
see accomplished, our Catholic Colleges and High 
Schools have been doing. Not only is this true of 
Seton Hall College and other Catholic Colleges and 
Schools of New Jersey, but of our educational 
system throughout the United States. The Jesuits 
especially have been pursuing this method of educa- 
tion during the three hundred years of their existence. 
President Wilson reasoned most precisely on the lines 
of the famous Ratio Studiorum. Our Catholic 
educational institutions have been doing what he so 
anxiously hopes Princeton and all the other Colleges 
and Universities may do, and far more have we been 
doing : we have been educating not only the minds of 
our boys, but we have been educating their hearts. 
We have been educating tlie boy as (lod made him, 
with all his powers and faculties. We have been 
drawing out all the good that is in him, and striving 
to correct all the evil — to make him a scholar and a 
cultured gentleman. 

The author knows that many of our Catholics, who 



99 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

have jjreat social pretensions, sacrifice every thinjj else 
to this craze for social distinction, and send their boys 
to the Colleges where, as President Wilson says, "no 
one has been educated for several decades." In these 
Colle«i:es, which have <T:reat newspaper notoriety for 
football and boat races, and sometimes for scandalous 
rowdyism, these Catholic boys have been put through 
a course of spiritual starvation, in an atmosphere 
charged with agnosticism, or at least with indiffer- 
entism. If some have survived without losing their 
Catholic Faith and Practice, many have lost both, or 
at least come out such weaklings in Religion, as to 
be on the verge of failure on what counts for Eternal 
Life, for as the Gospel has put it: "T/n's is Eternal 
Life, that they majf know Thee the only true God and 
Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent/' 

In choosing a College for their sons, no parent 
should choose a College whose atmosphere is 
malarial — a College where there is no exercise for 
the pupils and where the diet is a stars'ation diet ; and 
yet, do not Catholics who send their sons to non- 
Catholic Colleges place them in an atmosphere full of 
spiritual malaria? They place them in a College 
where there is utterly no spiritual exercises, no 
Sacraments, no Prayer, no careful guidance of the 
soul, and they submit them to a course of absolute 
spiritual starvation. The friendships and asso- 
ciations formed are also usually, at least, un-Catholic, 
if not anti-Catholic; and, if a young man falls in love 
it must be with what he knows and sees, and a mixed 
marriage is often the result of un-Catholic education. 
It is not difficult to see the final outcome of all this. 
In two or three generations, if there be any faith 
left in such families, and any hope for their eternal 



100 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



salvation, it will be through some miracle of God's 
grace in spite of their own efforts to have destroyed 
their faith and hope of eternal life. 

Catholics have nothing to gain by going out from 
the Catholic Faith and Practice — nothing to gain by 
going to Colleges where by their own admission "no 
one has been educated for several decades/' The Rev. 
Thomas J. McCluskey, S. J., President of St. Francis 
Xavier College, New York, emphasized the facts above 
given in a talk at the breakfast of the Xavier Alumini 
Sodality after the Communion Mass, on Sunday, June 
7th, 1908, and added: "There is not one of these 
Colleges, whose Philosophy can compare with the solid 
and true system given in our Jesuit Colleges and 
Universities. We do not experiment on the boy. We 
know what we intend to teach, and we teach it. We 
know our conclusions in Philosophy, and we have 
defended them before the world for three hundred 
years and upon our system has been placed the 
approval of the Church, ^the pillar and the ground of 
truth.' Our principles are these which must save the 
Republic^ — the permanency of marriage, the sanctity 
of the home, the forbidding of divorce, the formation 
of character in the youth committed to our charge. 
These are the long and lasting things that count for 
success for the individual, and permanency for the 
State. You, Gentlemen of this Sodality, all of you 
graduates of Colleges and Universities, ought 
to be a unit on these fundamental principles. I 
know there are some of you who liad not the 
opportunity of a Catholic Education. That your 
faith! has suiTived in spite of your training is an 
evidence of what God had dcme in the liome before 
you went out into tlie malarial atmosphere of 



101 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

your non-Catholic College. Look back to your 
own Colleges, where you were educated, and see 
if you have not suffered in your faith and practice by 
the years you were there. These years, certainly, did 
nothing to strengthen your faith and practice. I am 
glad you are here with us in this Alumni Sodality; 
but, as you love your children, do not expose them to 
the same danger to w^hich you were exposed, and send 
them where they will not be educated in mind and 
heart, as they would be in a Catholic College.^' 




102 




H- 



Jtfyurt- C-tryv^cU^ 



CHAPTER XXVI 

St. John's Eldest Daughter 

St. Mary's, for Catholics of German nationality, 
was the second Parish established in the Town of 
Newark. The late Rev. Nicholas Balleis, O. S. B., 
who celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination 
of the Priesthood on December 6th, 1881, was the first 
Pastor. In 1841, while an Assistant at St. Nicholas 
Church, Second street. New York, Bishop Dubois 
assigned him to minister unto the spiritual wants of 
the Catholics of German nationality in Newark 
and vicinity; and the same year Father Balleis 
organized St. Mary's Parish — the eldest daughter 
of old St. John's. Next to the congregation 
of St. Anthony of Padua, at Macopin (now 
Echo Lake), Morris County, which had been settled 
by Catholics from Prussia and Baden, St. Mary's 
is the oldest German Catholic Congregation in this 
State. Twenty-seven years ago, in writing up 
the Golden Jubilee of Father Balleis which was cele- 
brated in St. Mary's with imposing pomp and cere- 
mony, the author, then Newark correspondent of tlie 
l^ew York Freeman's Journal, furnished that paper 
with a historical sketcli of the progress of Catholicity 
in the Parishes of St. Mary and St. Anthony of Padua, 
and he laid especial stress upon the noble evidence 
of living faith which the Catholic settlers of Macopin 



103 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



had made manifest — liolding steadfast to the tenets of 
Holy Mother Church for sixty years, although dur- 
ing that period they only had the ministrations of a 
Priest very infrequently — sometimes once or twice a 
year, and it is related that for a period of thirty 
years they had not seen a Priest. Those Catholic 
laymen built a structure in which they assembled 
on Sundays and Holy Days to recite the Rosary, 
engage in Spiritual Reading and impart instructions 
in the Christian Doctrine. The building was also 
used for secular educational purposes. 

When he first came and for several months after 
his advent, Father Balleis used to assemble the 
scattered Germans of Newark and vicinity twice a 
month in old St. John's Church and preach to them 
in their mother tongue. This he was able to do, 
through the kind permission of Father Moran. 
Towards the close of the year 184:1, the number of 
German families had increased to seventy, and 
Father Balleis was enabled to purchase a plot of 
ground on Grand street (now Howard street), 
corner of Court street, and begin the erection of a 
frame Church edifice. The structure was thirty feet 
by fifty feet. A small parochial residence was also 
erected. Mass was first celebrated in the building on 
January 31st, 1842 ; but the Church was not solemnly 
dedicated until late in the Fall. Bishop Hughes 
officiated at the solemn and imposing ceremonies. 

Soon after the completion of the building, a school 
was opened in the basement, with some forty pupils 
in attendance — one of the first Catholic schools in the 
State. The congregation growing with surprising 
rapidity, and the property on Howard street being 
too small to have a larger edifice erected thereon, 



104 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Father Balleis bought the site of the present Church 
on High street, corner of William, in the Summer of 
1846, and immediately took steps to have the tempo- 
rary church edifice moved thither — a distance of 
nearly half a mile. There was scarcely a building 
the whole distance from the old site of the edifice 
to the new site at that time. The Church edifice was 
moved along on rollers; but scarcely had the con- 
tractor proceeded half way than he refused to carry 
out the terms of the contract because it would entail 
serious financial loss, and the Church "on rollers'' 
was abandoned by him — left in the middle of the 
street. Father Balleis, however, was not dismayed. 
He arranged with another contractor; and, although 
the edifice was nearly a month on its journey from 
Howard to High streets, he managed to have the 
Angelus Bell daily tolled; and he celebrated Mass on 
Sundays. 

Know-Nothingism ran mad in 1854 ; and St. Mary's 
struggling Parish underwent a severe trial. The 
Church as so many others, reared by the alms of poor 
laborers, was marked out as a victim for the vengeance 
of impiety. On September 5th, 1854, (according to 
Shea's admirable history, ^^The Catholic Church in 
the United states''), St. Mary's was demolished in 
broad daylight by an Orange lodge from New York, 
on the pretext tliat a pistol had been fired on their 
procession from a Avindow of the Church. "The 
Orangemen were parading in commemoration of the 
Battle of the Boyne and King William, their patron 
saint. They threw stones into tlie windows, fired 
shots at the structure, and some forced an entrance 
into the Church and demolished statuary, ])ictures and 
other articles." The claim of the Orangemen that 



105 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

their procession had been fired upon was devoid of 
truth — had no foundation in fact, as all the indepen- 
dent newspapers admitted and as the judicial investi- 
gation proved. The Xew York Tribune said: ^'It is 
worthy of remark that while five or six Catholic 
Churches in this country have been destroyed or 
ruined by an excited populace, not a single Protestant 
Church can be pointed out which Catholics have even 
thought of attacking/' "The Orange procession was 
armed, and in firing on the spectators killed one man 
and seriously wounded others; but even this could 
not provoke any breach of peace on the part of the 
Catholics/- While the spoliation and desecration was 
going on with vandalic fury, the Rev. Charles Geyer- 
stranger, O. S. B., whose services Father Balleis had 
been fortunate in securing during the previous year, 
forced his way fearlessly through the godless crowd 
to the altar and saved the Blessed Sacrament from 
profanation. The lives of both Fathers had been 
threatened, and the horror-stricken parishioners, 
having still fresh in their minds the abominable out- 
rage perpetrated a few months before on the person of 
Father Bapst,* of the Society of Jesus, at Ellsworth, 
Maine, by similar miscreants, were greatly alarmed 
for the safety of their beloved priests ; but no violence 
was done them. Not only were the Orangemen 
armed with firearms, but some cariied hatchets. One 
of the vandals chopped off the head of a Statue of 
the Blessed Virgin in the Sanctuary, and also the 
hands just above the wrist. Retributive justice fol- 
lowed. Six months afterwards, that miscreant lost 
one of his hands — the very hand which wielded the 
hatchet was caught in the machinery of a mill where 

• Father Bapst was murdered and disemboweled. 



106 



II 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

he was employed; "blood poisoning set in, and the 
unfortunate man died a raving maniac."* Another 
of the miscreantvS lived in Newark for years and his 
feet gradually turned outward until the toes of each 
foot pointed in opposite directions. 

The disfigured Statue of the Blessed Virgin which 
the Orange mob desecrated is enshrined in glass on 
the Epistle side of St. Mary's Church, just outside 
the Sanctuary railing. The head of the Statue had 
been lost for several years. It was found in St. 
Vincent's Archabbey, near Latrobe, Westmoreland 
County, Pa., and there treasured by the present 
Father Abbot of St. Mary's, the Right Rev. Hilary 
Pfraengle, O. S. B., until it was restored by him to 
St. Mary's. In front of the shrine where the dis- 
figured Statue stands is a card inscribed : 
THE STATUTE 
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN 
together with St. Mary's Church, corner High and William 
Streets, Newark, N. J., was demolished by a mob of Orange 
rioters from New York 

on the 

5th day of September, 

1854. 

Frederick A. Morton, No. 42 Park street, who is 
one of the author's highly respected Presbyterian 
neighbors, said the other day that he saw the attack 
made by the Orangemen upon St. Mary's Church 
He was then attending the Wesleyan Institute, now 
known as the Newark Academy on High street, oppo- 
site the Church. "When the Orangemen began tlie 
attack, firing upon the Church, the scholars made a 
rush to get out; but the doors were immediately 
locked — we were all locked in — from the windows of 

"Newark correspondent of the New York Freeman's Journal. 



107 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

the school we watched the mob and saw what was 
going on. The Orangemen discharged their firearms 
and hurled stones and other missies at the white 
Cross on the apex of the Church, but they could not 
get it dowm The Cross, as I remember, escaped all 
injury. It wtis never hit by either bullet or missle. 
The next day, with other school companions, I 
entered the Church, and shall never forget the ^abomi- 
nation of desolation' which met our view. The 
Statue of the Virgin was laying on the floor in the 
centre aisle in front of the Sanctuary and in front of 
the main altar, and the right side appeared as if it 
had been chopped \\'ith a hatchet. The interior of the 
Church was wrecked. Even the organ was torn to 
pieces — the pipes were twisted in all directions." 




108 



CHAPTER XXVII 

Orangemen Not Loyal Citizens 

Orangemen take a most solemn oath to uphold the 
Protestant British Crown ; and yet, because their dark 
lantern society is a menace to good government, they 
have no recognition either in England or Scotland. 
Orange lodges will not be permitted to be organized 
in Great Britian; in fact they are absolutely forbid- 
den. When the present King of England visited 
Canada and the United States in 1860, the Orange- 
men of Ontario made great preparations to receive 
him. In every city which the Prince was to visit, they 
erected arches under which he was to pass. The Duke 
of Newcastle, in whose charge His Koyal Highness 
was, refused to permit him to recognize the Orange- 
men, directly or indirectly; and there was "a great 
howl," but not by Rome! There were threats of 
rebellion — even revolution — lieard on all sides, made 
by the "loyaP^ Orangemen. How could the Duke con- 
sistently permit the heir apparent to the British 
throne to countenance in Canada an infamous society 
wliich Avas proscribed in England and Scotland by 
the British government? 

The free soil of the United States, hallowed by the 
civilized influences of Catholic IMissionarios and 
sanctified by the blood of patriots is no place for 
Orangeism. How can an Orangeman be a good Ameri- 
can citizen? How can he take the oath of allegiance 



109 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



to the State and Nation without stultifying himself — 
perjuring himself? Should he become an American 
citizen so far as outward appearances go and continue 
in affiliation with his Orange lodge, is he not a hypo- 
crite? With the words of his mouth he professes 
fealty to American institutions, but in his heart there 
is war against them because of his hidebound oath 
of fealty to the dynasty of an alien power which he 
professes to renounce but continues to support? ''But 
should not Orangemen be protected in their civil 
rights," the author has been asked? No class should 
be privileged to abuse civil rights by performing a 
very uncivil act. To insult others, the purpose of 
Orangemen in their parades, should not be counte- 
nanced for a moment. As well might we close our 
eyes to the abuses of civil rights by Anarchists in the 
name of Liberty! As well might Americans applaud 
the Orangemen who on the early morning of July 4th, 
1861, raised a Palmetto flag over an arch on the 
bridge spanning the Rideau Canal at Ottawa, Canada 
— under which several American citizens were obliged 
to pass on their way to take a train for Ogdensburg, 
New York, to participate in the Fourth of July cele- 
bration I Was not this a gross insult to American man- 
hood — especially when our country was involved in 
the throes of Civil War? 



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CHAPTER XXVIII 

St. Patrick's Parish 

The second spiritual offspring of St. John's was St. 
Patrick's, now the Pro-Cathedral. It will be recalled 
that Bishop Hughes had informed the congregation 
of St. John's of the purpose of Father Moran to 
secure land for another Church in a central part of 
the town, but for prudent reasons the location was 
not then designated. On October 26th, 1846, the 
executors of General Thomas Ward sold at public 
auction the lots on the corner of Washington and 
Nesbitt streets (now Central avenue) where St. 
Patrick's Pro-Cathedral now stands. Father Moran 
appointed Bernard Kearney, Anslem J. Fromaget, 
George Dougherty (grandfather of Dr. George 
O'Gorman), Nicholas Moore and Dr. James Elliott, 
a committee to attend the sale. They were instructed 
by their Pastor to bid separately for the lots. Because 
of the antagonism to Catholics in those days, Father 
Moran believed if it were known that the property 
was wanted for a site for a Catholic Church he would 
not be able to secure it. Several lots needed for the 
Church were bought by Mr. Norris, a Protestant of 
wealth who lived in Wasliington Place, the owner and 
occupant of the residence now occupied by Hon. 
James Smith, Jr., former United States Senator; but 
when he was afterwards visited by Rev. Father Moran, 
who explained the circumstances, he transferred the 



111 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

lots to the Priest at the price he had paid for them 
and besides, he made a large donation, expressing 
regret that he had not been advised of the intention 
of those whom he had outbid. 

Father Moran entered into a contract with a promi- 
nent builder to erect a Church edifice according to 
plans furnished. The Pastor of St. John's was the 
architect. He had the plans already drawn, and 
determined to exercise daily supervision of the work 
while in progress. The foundation was laid, and 
nearly finished, much lumber and brick were on hand, 
and in the course of a few days the ceremony of laying 
the corner stone was to be performed by Bishop 
Hughes. Late one night, however. Father Moran 
received word that the contractor had run away from 
town and that he was very much indebted for lumber, 
brick and wages for the workmen. The Pastor and 
the people of old St. John's Church had to pay all 
bills — a very large sum for that time — and the 
building of the Church was stopped for more than a 
year. Bishop Hughes sent the Rev. Louis Dominic 
Senez to be Father Moran's Assistant, and the 
energetic young priest undertook to finish the 
work on St. Patrick's. The Assistant Priest of St. 
John's electrified everybody. The people contributed 
with remarkable generosity, and work on the Church 
progressed. The corner stone was laid by Bishop 
Hughes, September 17th, 1848. The day was stormy 
— the fury of the elements had burst forth; and 
because of the storm, the collection taken up was 
small, for the drenched people had hurried away after 
the sermon. The congregation of St. John's, however, 
to whom Father Senez made a fervent appeal on the 
following Sunday, contributed a large sum of money 



112 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 

for the new edifice. St. Patrick's was dedicated 
March 17th, 1850, Bishop Hughes officiating. He was 
attended by Fathers Moran, Senez and Balleis, O. S. 
B., besides two priests from Brooklyn. The Bishop 
preached in the morning, and the Kev. Father 
Deluynes, S. J., preached in the afternoon. 

An unpleasant event occurred when St. Patrick's 
was nearly completed. Painters were engaged in 
pointing and painting the outside walls. One morn- 
ing a workman who was somewhat under the influence 
of liquor insisted upon ascending a ladder to work. 
He had succeeded in getting four or five steps upward 
when the Pastor seized the ladder, and the man either 
jumped or fell off and sprained his ankle. Legal pro- 
ceedings were instituted against Father Senez; the 
Grand Jury found a Bill for grievous assault, and at 
the trial the Judge imposed a fine of |250.00 and costs. 
At this period it was not difficult to create bad feeling 
against a Priest. The public mind had been poisoned 
by the circulation of vile literature made up of false- 
hoods about the Catholic Church doctrines. The most 
improbable stories were generally believed ; indeed, it 
would seem as if the wish to believe falsehood was 
father to the thought. 

The Church having been dedicated. Father Senez 
became the first Pastor. He established a Sunday 
School and a Day School; organized societies for 
adults, and laid the foundation of what has become 
one of the chief gk)ries of the Diocese of Newark — 
St. Mary's Orphan Asylum at Vailsburg. The Pastor 
had four rooms fitted up for his own residence in the 
dormitory of the school. In the Winter of 1851-2, he 
had beds put into the dormitory, gatliered in about a 
dozen orphan chiklren who had no one to properly 



113 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



care for them, and ere long the number of orphans 
increased to twenty-three. They were gathered from 
both parishes — nearly half the number being from 
St. John's. These orphans were clothed and fed and 
cared for by a few charitable young women. In the 
Winter of 1852, small-pox was epidemic in Newark, 
and broke out among the orphans. Four of the little 
ones were stricken with the loathsome disease. Dur- 
ing the day they were attended by some of the young 
women (school teachers) ; but Father Senez would 
not permit any of the teachers to sit up at night. He 
himself performed the duties of nurse during the 
nocturnal hours. All the patients recovered. The 
pupils of the Day Schools on the floors beneath were 
not vaccinated. Afterwards, when the Diocese of 
Newark was erected and the Sisters of Charity were 
brought into this vineyard the orphans were taken to 
the home of the Sisters at the corner of Washington 
and Bleecker streets. Subsequently St. Mary's 
Orphan Asylum was permanently establisheil at 
Vailsburg and all orphans were taken there. St. 
Patrick's Parish extended North to Woodside, South 
to Waverly, and W^est from Broad street to the 
Orange Mountains, excepting the Parish limits of St. 
Mary's (German) Church. In 1852, Father Senez 
built St. John's, Orange, and established a Day 
School. The Rev. John Hogan was then his Assistant 
at St. Patrick's, and the Pastor and the Assistant said 
Mass in Orange on alternate Sundays. The Church 
was a frame structure, large enough for the resident 
Catliolics of the village. In its erection, the Priests 
were assisted financially by a devoted and liberal 
member of St. Patrick's who resided in Orange — a sea 
cai)tain named Ward. When the building was 



lU 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

finished and surmounted by the Cross, the Pastor 
remarked to Captain Ward that "the building 
would remind him of his ship; the Cross his ship's 
pennant ; and watching this and his compass he might 
hope to escape storm and shipwreck." 

His Holiness, Pope Pius IX. of blessed memory, 
erected the Diocese of Newark, comprising the entire 
State of New Jersey, a Suffragan See of New York 
in 1853, and appointed the Right Rev. James Roose- 
velt Bayley its first Bishop. He was consecrated by 
Mgr. Bedini, Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil, on October 
30th — the imposing ceremonies taking place in St. 
Patrick's Cathedral, Mott street. New York. The 
first Ordinary of the See of Newark selected St. 
Patrick's for his Cathedral Church. He appointed 
Father Senez Pastor of St. John's, Orange — the Rev. 
Bernard J. McQuaid succeeding Father Senez as 
Pastor of the Pro-Cathedral, and Father Hogan was 
appointed first Pastor of St. Peter's Church, Belle- 
ville. After the Civil War began Father McQuaid was 
appointed President of Seton Hall College, and the 
Rev. George Hobart Doane was appointed Pastor of 
St. Patrick's, and in turn he was succeeded by the 
present zealous Rector, Rev. Isaac P. Whelan, who 
was formerly an Assistant Priest in old St. John's. 

Mgr. Joseph M. Flynn relates this interesting story 
in which the present Rector of the Pro-Cathedral 
figures: "At the outbreak of fanaticism, stirred up 
by native Americans and Know-Nothings, St. Mary's 
(Elizabethtown) did not escape attention. The 
infuriated rabble marclied toward the Church with 
tlie avowed intention of sacking and destroying it. 
With the open Bibh^ — the Book of all books which 
embalms sentiments of peace and good will toward 



115 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

all, and the stifling of human passion — at the head 
of the procession, these sons of savage hate and crass 
ignorance wended their way to the modest edifice 
which stood for the faith and for the sacrifices of the 
Irish Catholic. Father Howell well knew what it 
would mean, if in some way he could not induce the 
men of the congregation to absent themselves from 
the scene of impending conflict. He succeeded. Then 
to the women he entrusted the task of defending the 
Church. With their babes in their arms, they gi'ouped 
themselves, these worthy daughters of martyred sires, 
in front of the main door, and awaited the oncoming 
hostile mob. In the forefront, nerving the rest to 
courage by her bravery, stood the wife of Captain 
Whelan. In her arms her infant son, who, grown to 
manhood, was destined to meet and overcome more 
subtle and more powerful foes of the Master, faced 
the leader, who was well known to her. ^Come, Mary, 
stand aside with your child !' shouted the leader. ^No, 
Sam, I will not. You cannot enter this door, but 
over the dead body of my child and myself!^ she 
quietly replied. Daunted by this manifestation of 
courage, and not entirely devoid of the chivalrous 
spirit which at times his forefathers were wont to 
manifest, he hestitated for a moment. Then, turning 
to his fellows, he told them to go home, and with a 
terrible oath he swore he would brain the first man 
who would lay a finger on woman or child. Father 
Howell's strategy was successful, and the Church was 
saved." 

Mgr. Doane took great pride in St. Patrick's Parish 
Schools, which are in charge of the Christian Brothers 
and the Sisters of Charity; St. Mary's Academy, in 
charge of the Sisters of Charity; the St. Vincent de 



116 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Paul Society; the Sodalities and the Holy Name 
Society; but he ever manifested special interest 
in St. Michael's Hospital — one of the best institu- 
tions of that character in the United States. As 
the history of St. Michael's Hospital will be written 
at some future time, the author desires to anticipate 
the work of its historian by relating the fact that the 
necessity for such an undertaking was recognized by 
the Kev. Patrick Moran, Pastor of old St. John's, in 
the need which arose in 1848-9 when so many Irish 
immigrants came to Newark suffering with "ship 
fever." Many of the unfortunates came here only 
to die. Father Moran secured a refuge for the afflicted 
Irish immigrants where many were nursed back to 
life, and where those whom God called were at least 
assured of care before the last summons. The Pastor 
of St. John's, although not a physician, was skilled 
in medicine; but before coming to Newark he used 
to attend Bellevue Hospital, New York, where he 
acquired some practical knoAvledge of medicine. He 
secured quarters for a temporary hospital; and the 
first hospital in the city of Newark was opened in St. 
John's Parish, on Mulberry street, near the Centre 
Market. The late Dr. James Elliott was graduated 
from the New York University in 1849, and Father 
Moran immediately secured his professional services 
in ministering to the sick. 



117 



CHAPTER XXIX 

Mgr. George H. Doane*s Monument 

The late Eight Rev. Mgr. Doane, Prothonotary 
Apostolic and Rector of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, 
was a faithful priest. The work performed and the 
results attained during the years of his ministry 
stand forth resplendent ly as a monument to his 
zeal, earnestness of purpose and fidelity to duty. 
Through the generosity of the citizens of Newark, 
regardless of racial or religious proclivities, a monu- 
ment in bronze and stone has been erected in Rector 
Park, North of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, 
to perpetuate, not the priestly character of Mgr. 
Doane, but, as the Civic Committee stated, '^in honor 
of a man who identified himself with many move- 
ments for the betterment and uplifting of the civic 
spirit of our city." The Civic Committee comprised 
Hon. James Smith, Jr., Chairman; Rev. Louis Shreve 
Osborne, Jeremiah O'Rourke, Richard C. Jenkinson, 
Dr. Leslie D. Ward, Hon. Gottfried Krueger, Henry 
W. Doremus, Rev. M. I^ucht, James Taafe, John F. 
Shanley, William Campbell Clark, Samuel Kalisch, 
William B. Kinney, John Cotton Dana, John F. 
Kehoe, Joseph M. Byrne, Treasurer, and James M. 
Reilly, Secretar}'. Mr. Shanley and Mr. Taafe, having 
rcH^eived permission from Bishop O'Connor and also 
the consent of the Reverend Rectors, visited the 



118 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 

different Catholic Parishes to create an active interest 
among the people for the purpose of raising subscrip- 
tions towards the Monsignor Doane Monument Fund. 
They were aided by the Treasurer and Secretary 
of the Committee. This Monument was unveiled 
January 9th, 1908, with imposing ceremonies. Hon. 
James Smith, Jr., former United States Senator, 
Chairman of the "Doane Memorial Committee of the 
City of Newark,'' presented the Monument, on behalf 
of the subscribers; and His Honor, Mayor Jacob 
Haussling, accepted it on behalf of the city. The Right 
Rev. John J. O'Connor, D. D., now happily ruling the 
See of Newark, made an address, in which he said it 
was not necessary to erect a monument made by 
human hands to perpetuate the memory of George 
Hobart Doane among the Catholic people. Addresses 
were also made by Hon. Samuel Kalisch, the Rev. 
Joseph M. Leucht, Rabbi Emeritus of the Jewish 
Temple, Hon. Richard Wayne Parker, M. C, the Rev. 
Louis Shreve Osborne, Rector of Trinity Protestant 
Episcopal Church, and others. 

The Knights of Columbus* of this city, the Young 
Men's Catholic Association of St. Patrick's, the Holy 
Name Societies representing different Parishes, the 
Grand Army and other organizations took part in the 
parade. The Joint Committee of Newark, Olive 
Branch, and Star of Bethlehem Councils, Knights 
of Columbus, liad authorized their Cliairiiian, Paul 
V. Flynn, and their Secretary, Miles F. (Juinn, to 
issue an address to the members of the Order, from 
which this excerpt is taken: "Wliile citizens gener- 

*'rh(> Knl>;:hts of Columbus, in National (*ouncll. at St. lyouis. this yonr, 
resolved t-o raise tlio sum of half a million dollars for the WashinVton 
University. The sum is expected to be raised within the next two years. 
The membership of the Order approximates 225,000. 



119 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 



ally are called upon to pay tribute to the memory of 
the late Mgr. Doane, it is especially not only meet and 
proper, but the duty of the Knights of Columbus and 
our co-religionists to bear public testimony to the 
civic and religious virtues of him who accomplished 
so much for Catholicity by word and example. Mgr. 
Doane was in ideal citizen. In him the love of his 
religion and the love of country, in all the potency 
of their strength and the splendor of their magnifi- 
cence, manifested themselves in the perfection of their 
nature. He had the courage of his convictions — the 
courage to do that which was right, no matter the 
personal sacrifice. In the grandeur of his life what 
a magnificent legacy has he not left! Let us profit 
by his example. When the Civil War threatened the 
disruption of this land of ours, Mgr. Doane marched 
to the front with his co-religionists and the other 
co-patriots, encouraging them onward to duty and 
ministering unto them. ^God and Country' was the 
battle cry. No matter from what aspect it may be 
viewed, the exemplary life of this ideal citizen teaches 
lessons of duty, patriotism, religion and love. It was 
a life whose influence more than aught else in his 
time and generation contributed to eradicate intoler- 
ance and fanaticism, which blinded honest but mis- 
guided minds, and brought them to a realization of 
the civic truth that they must respect the constitu- 
tional rights of others, as they would have their own 
respected." 



120 



CHAPTER XXX 

The Conversion of George Hobart Doane 

Tributes to the memory of the late Mc^r. Oeorge 
Hobart Doane have been tokl in prose and sung in 
verse; but the story leading to his conversion to 
Catholicity remains in part an unwritten history. 
Because of the lesson which it imparts that story 
must now be related. George Hobart Doane was a 
son of the first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of New 
Jersey, and a deacon at Grace Church, this city. 
He was deeply interested in the IMiseyite Movement. 
At that time there was an Irish Catholic employed as 
a domestic at the rectory. The young deacon found 
her prayer book one day, "The Key of Heaven." He 
examined it and became interested in the instructions 
relating to the Sacrament of Penance. He was of a 
bright disposition and not infrequently joked with 
the domestic about the (Confessional. "I\fary," he 
would ask, "When did you go to confession last?" 
"What did the priest say?" "Are you going to con- 
fession next Saturday?" These and kindred in(|uiries 
were jocosely made. One morning there was a knock 
at his door; and, in answer to his "Come in," the 
domestic entered. "Mr. Doane," quoth she, "you lost 
a silver coin about six months ago; here is your half- 
dollar. J am going to Confession and must make 
restitution or the priest won't give me absolution." 
George H. Doane recalled conversations he had 



121 



I 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

had at his father's home at Burlington with an Irish 
Catholic, who was the "man-of-all-work,'' and the 
attempts he had made to make an Episcopalian out 
of him after returning from the visit to Koiiie, which 
he describes in "A Letter" to Right Reverend James 
Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., Bishop of Newark, and his 
discussions with the "man of all work'' about the 
Confessional and other matters pertaining to Catholic 
Faith and Practice. 

These thoughts caused him to think and ask: 
*'If priests of the Roman Catholic Church have power 
to hear confessions and give or withhold absolution, 
why should not priests of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church exercise such faculties? Have they not the 
power, if their ordination is valid and our Church is 
a branch of the one true Church Catholic?" He went 
to Burlington, made a short visit to his father and 
tlu^n returned to Newark. 

When the train stopped at Rahway, the Right 
Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, Bishop of Newark, 
entered the passenger coach and took a seat near the 
front. George H. Doane was seated near the centre 
of the car. He and the Bishop were not acquainted — 
only knew each other by reputation. Arriving at the 
Market Street Station, two cabs were in waiting. The 
Bishop entered one and was driven to No. 35 Bleecker 
street, the Episcopal residence. The Protestant Epis- 
copal Deacon took the other and was driven to Grace 
Church rectory. That night, he went to Bishop Bayley's 
house. He rang the bell, and one of the Assistant 
Priests opened the door. He first took Deacon Doane 
for a Seminarian from Seton Hall, because he wore a 
Roman colhu'. The visitor asked to see the Bishop. 
The priest told him he could not until next morning 



122 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

because Bishop Bayley had retired for the night. The 
young man was persistent — he must see Bishop 
Bayley then. The Bishop was informed by the priest, 
and word was sent out that the caller should come 
again. George Hobart Doane was not satisfied, 
and he expressed his determination not to leave the 
house until he saw the Bishop. This being reported 
to Bishop Bayley, he came from his room and invited 
the young man to enter. George Hobart Doane 
unbosomed the secrets of his soul to Bishop Bayley. 
He came to "a higher power'^ and had the inestimable 
happiness soon after of finding himself In Haven at 
last, having weathered the tempestuous storms which 
had threatened to wreck his hopes eternal. 

Right Rev. Joseph M. Flynn, in his history. The 
Catholic Church in New Jersey, thus describes the 
visit of George Hobart Doane to Bishop Bayley : 

^^One Saturday evening, after Confessions in St. 
Patrick's, Mr. Matthew O'Brien, the sexton, called 
on Father McQuaid to tell him that a young man 
had walked into the Church and insisted on seeing 
Bishop Bayley. The sexton directed him to go to the 
Bishop's House. While Fathers McQuaid and 
Venuta were discussing the cliaracter of the visitor 
and the nature of the errand, the night-bell rang. It 
was then after eleven. At the suggestion of Father 
McQuaid, Father Venuta answered it. He found a 
tall, liandsome young man, who excitedly askeil for 
the Bishop. Ho was told that as it Avas ahvady late 
it would be difficult, if not out of the question, to see 
him. He so persisted, that finally Father Venuta went 
to Bisho]) Bayley's room, and delivered the young 
man's message. The Bishoj) n^plied, 'Tell him I can't 
see him to-night; it is too lat<^ and let liiin call again.' 



123 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



I^iit, undaunted by this rebuff, the younji; man replied 
that he would not leave the house until he saw the 
Hishop. On liearing this, Bishop Bayley came 
out of his room and invited the stranger to enter. 
Tliey talked far into the night, and George Hobart 
Doane returned to Grace Church rectory and 
informed the R<K?tor that he could take no part in 
the services that day. He paid a short visit to his 
father, who was the Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey, 
and promised him to wait two months — in Newport — 
iK'fore taking any decisive step. In tliat fashionable 
watering place he met Mrs. Peters, of Cincinnati, 
and other devout Catholics, who instructed and con- 
firmed him in the doctrines of the Church of whose 
priesthood he has been these many decades of years 
its glory and its boast." 

The "visit" to Burlington to which reference is 
made in this excerpt had been made by George Hobart 
Doane before his call upon Bishop Bayley. It was 
the very Saturday night on Avhich the Bishop entered 
the railway train at Rahway that the call was 
made; and this is evidenced by a perusal of "A 
Letter" ^^Titten by George Hobart Doane to the 
Bisliop of Newark in 1856, when he was pursuing his 
studies in the Collegio Pio: "That night, at Rah- 
way, you stepped into the car in which I was. It 
scHMued to me providential, and I took it as such, and 
determined, yes, before I slept, for who knew that 
that night might be my last, to seek counsel, and 
comfort from you, who, if anyone could, I knew, 
could give to me. ♦ ♦ ♦ Yoh advised me to 
be patient, and to xcait, to write to Burlington and 
state my condition. I did.'^ etc. Some years elapsed 
b<'fore Bishop Doane and his son met again; and at 



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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

this meeting a reconciliation was effected, as related 
by Mgr. Flynn {The Catholic Church in New Jersey, 
page 211). "After some years in the Priesthood, 
Father Doane was invited by the Pastor to preach in 
the Catholic Church in Burlington, his home, and the 
Episcopal See of his father. Bishop Doane remarked 
to his man-of-all-work, a Catholic: ^Well, I see the 
prodigal is coming home. Then we must kill the 
fatted calf.' He sent ornaments from his home and 
flowers from his garden for the adornment of the 
altar; and in the evening father and son were 
reconciled." 

But the author must let George Hobart Doane 
continue the interesting narrative of his conversion: 

* "A LETTER 
"TO 
"THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD 
"JAMES, 
"BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND THE FAVOUR OF THE 
"APOSTOLIC SEE, BISHOP OF NEWARK, 
"Containing some remarks upon a statement lately published 
in the Journal of Proceedings of the Seventy-third Annual 
Convention of the Episcopal Church in the State of New Jersey, 
held in Grace Church, and in Trinity Church, Newark, on 
Wednesday, 28 May, 1856, and published at Burlington, by 
Samuel C. Atkinson, Printer, purporting to give an account of 
his Conversion to the Catholic Faith, 

"BY 
"G. H. DOANE, A. M. 
"Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the 
snare is broken, and we are delivered." 

''A Letter," thus described, was written by George 
H. Doane, November 13th, 1856, when he was a 
student of Theology at the Collegio Pio, Eome, Italy. 

♦NOTE. — The narrative having required in some of Its parts the use 
of the Protestant version of Holy Scripture, It has been used in all. 
The writer deems It proper to add that, In doing so, he disclaims any 
Intention of recognizing it as the authorized translation of the Word 
of God. 



125 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



It was addressed to Bishop Bayley. After the latter 
was promoted to the Metropolitan See of Baltimore 
and just before taking his departure from the See of 
Newark, Archbishop Baylej placed "A Letter" in the 
hands of the late Dr. James Elliott; and through 
information received from Hon. James Smith, Jr., 
former United States Senator, who was one of the 
late Kight Rev. Mgr. George H. Doane's executors, 
the precious document as it emanated from the pen of 
George H. Doane nearly fifty-two years ago, has come 
into the author's possession and is herewith published 
for the first time: 

A. M. D. G. 

CoLLEGio Pio, Rome, 
Feast of S. Stanislaus Kostka, 

Nov. 13, A. D. 1856. 
Right Reverend and Very Dear Father in God: 

You will remember during the short time I was with you 
after it had pleased God to give me the Grace of Conversion 
to the Catholic Faith, that you quite agreed with me as to the 
inadvisability of my making any reply to the numerous attacks 
which were made upon me in consequence of the step which 
I had taken. Many of them were so absurd as to refute them- 
selves to any unprejudiced reader, and all of them were written 
in the heat of excitement, the evidence of which very much 
impeded their effect. Yesterday, however, I met for the first 
time with a document purporting to give in an official form an 
account of my conversion preceded by a short history of my 
life. The sources from which it proceeds while on the one hand 
it gives an authority to the statements which it contains, on 
the other renders it a peculiarly difficult and delicate matter for 
me to know what notice I should take of it. Leaving myself 
entirely out of the question, I deem it my duty in the most 
respectful way to make a counterstatement. which while it will 
not deny any of the facts alleged, will show that these facts 
when fully stated and explained are calculated to cause a very 
different impression from the one which must necessarily be 
left by them as they at present stand. I do so in the form of a 
letter to you, and leave it to you to make what use of it you 



126 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



think will most redound to the glory of God, and the extension 
of His Church — as a small tribute of my gratitude to Him for 
having led me out of a barren and dry land where no water 
was, into the green pastures of His blessed fold, and beside the 
pleasant waters of comfort. 

I should do violence to my nature, and to the truth, were 
I to deny the happiness of my early years at Burlington. In 
religious matters, it was one of the chief centres for the dis- 
semination of the views which took their origin in Oxford, and 
were first broached in the "Tracts for the Times." I took them 
at their word, and fondly believed that as a member of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, much as I disliked the name, I 
was in communion with the Church Catholic. I tried to be 
consistent in that belief, and to act up to it, as well in doctrine, 
as in practice. It was very hard work as you well know. The 
fact that in that communion opindons the most different are 
held on the most important articles of the faith, such as the 
Apostolical Succession, Degeneration in Baptism, the Real 
Presence in the Eucharist, as well as the existence of practices 
the most opposite in liturgical matters, often gave me serious 
uneasiness, but I supposed that they were permitted by God to 
try my faith, and endeavored to bear them patiently. When 
Rome, as the Catholic Church was called, was mentioned, 
remarks were made which were rather inconsistent with what 
little I knew of it, but yet I held my peace, often rather glad 
to hear them, as they served to make me feel securer in my 
then position. About that time I had the pleasure of making 
the acquaintance of a Catholic Priest, the Rev. E. I. Sourin, 
now a Father of the Society of Jesus, the first priest I had 
ever known, whose character seemed so entirely different 
from thati which I had commonly heard attributed to that class 
of men that I even then began to wonder if there were not more 
good in the Catholic Church than is generally allowed by 
Protestants. That impression I think I never lost. 

My occupations as a medical student left me little time for 
thought on religious controversy. The journey on the con- 
tinent still less. It is said that in Rome, when I was here I 
saw nothing to attract me. Be it so. I was here, for a month, 
and while here was occupied with the remains of antiquity, 
the pictures, the churches considered as specimens of architec- 
ture, and all the countless objects of interest which fully occupy 
the attention of a traveller. So far as I was concerned, the 
Church was as if it were not. Pagan Rome 1 saw, and saw it well, 



127 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



but of Christian Rome as I know it now, I saw nothing. The 
Pope I saw but in a function at St. Peter's in all his grandeur 
as Head of the Church, not as I have seen him lately, the 
tender, simple Father at the Quirinal. The Cardinals I saw 
in their carriages as Princes of the Church, and supposed driving 
about the City to be their sole occupation. I have lived to 
learn their gre.it labors and boundless charity. The Churches 
1 saw, but long after those who had assisted at the Holy Sacri- 
fice, and received the Body of the Lord had gone, refreshed 
thereby to their work and labor. A simple priest might have 
been saying mass, and no doubt the impression was left upon my 
mind, that he was doing all the devotion of the people — while 
they had thronged the Church before I had left my bed. The 
pious works in Rome, the schools, the asylums, the hospitals, 
all escaped my attention, and so they do the attention of ninety- 
nine out of every hundred Protestants who visit this Holy City. 
They do their wonderful works of charity in perfect quiet, 
known but to God and to those whom for His sake they 
befriend. The Church of the Gesu I looked at with a half sus- 
picious eye, not as now drawing fresh comfort from every visit 
to the holy priests who live and minister there to countless 
thousands. In truth I did not want to become a Catholic, and 
so I fostered the Protestant feeling, avoided all those who could 
possibly have undeceived me, and never was so bitterly Protestant 
as when here. Anglicanism had not yet been sufficiently 
tried by me, and so supposing it to be right, I acted upon the 
necessary consequence that "Romanism" was wrong. How much 
my visit to Rome tended, or could have tended, to undeceive 
me, you may imagine, without my going farther into detail. 
But to return to America, and to the time I spent at home after 
my journey. What followed is given in the statement which I 
have quoted. Had I remained in Burlington, the dream might 
perhaps have continued, and I have awakened from it, but at 
my death, to find that I had died, as I had lived, a heretic. 
But it pleased God, in his inscrutable way, to lead me where 
I could put my belief to a more searching test. So far as is 
possible in a Protestant Society, Catholic practices are to be 
found there, sufficient to satisfy one who has never had any 
experience of the reality. The poor are looked after, the ignorant 
instructed, the sick attended to. But this is a single instance. 
Were one-tenth of the Episcopal parishes conducted in this 
manner, the claim to Catholicity, as far as externals go, 
might be sustained with some force. But who does not know 



128 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



how far this is from being the case. Without perhaps my 
knowledge at the time all this had its weight with me, and 
I sighed for more consistency and unanimity. The Catholics of 
the place were for the most part poor, and unlettered, the 
priest, as in most American towns, was, from the very fact of 
his being such, as a man proscribed; nothing better offered 
itself to me, and I dreamed on. I deceived myself and suf- 
fered myself to be deceived. I did not see it then, but I do 
most clearly now. Of the doctrine of the Church I knew 
nothing except as it is misrepresented in Protestant controversy. 
The remarks I have made with reference to my visit to Rome 
will apply to the pleasure I experienced in reading Dr. Hopkins' 
late book. It quieted doubts, and gave me, for the time, a 
firm hold of my position. I did not wish to be convinced of 
the truth of Catholicity. My heart rebelled against it, my home, 
my relatives, my friends, the friends of my childhood, and of my 
manhood, all, all, forbade the thought. That very affectionate 
nature of which the statement speaks would not bear the idea, 
and so I succeeded, as so many have, and as, alas, so many 
now do, in keeping my conscience quiet, and forcing myself to 
believe what, now that the full flood of grace has poured into my 
soul, I see to be utterly devoid of any semblance of the truth. 
And so the time passed on, and my ordination approached. With 
Dr. Newman I can safely say, the place alone being changed, 
"Can I forget, — I never can forget the day when in my youth 
I first bound myself to the ministry of God in that old church 
of S. Frideswide, the patroness of Oxford? Nor how I wept 
most abundant, and most sweet tears, when I thought what 
I had then become?" Anxious to exercise the office which, at 
the time, I thought had been given me, I went to Newark, and 
became the Assistant to the Rector of Grace Church. Here 
for the first time, practically, the differences in the Episcopal 
body were brought to my notice. In the Church of which I 
was the Assistant, the Sacramental System, as it is called, was 
earnestly taught, while in a leading church of the same denomi- 
nation, the opposite, or Evangelical System as it is called, was 
as earnestly preached. The utter inability of Protestantism to 
cope with the irreligion and infidelity of a large town, was 
evident, the need of religious orders, of clergy living in 
comnmnity and leading mortified lives was abundantly manifest. 
Reluctantly I was brought to see that the clergy of the denomi- 
nation to which I belonged were respected simply in their per- 
sonal, and not in their official capacity. The mode of electing 



129 



111, ^^ 3- 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



ministers was utterly subversive of sacerdotal authority. A 
good preacher could always command attention, and a salary, 
while rather than have a poor one, a parish would sooner go 
without. The overbearing influence of the laity, the principle 
of private judgment, and in fact, though in a less degree and than 
in other Protestant sects, the false principles of the Refonners pre- 
vailed. Very Catholic doctrine was preached about the sacra 
ments, but the practice did not carry out the teaching. The 
Body of our Lord, as I believed it to be. was left lying about 
the "Altar," and even strewn upon the floor, the chalice was 
rinsed into the basin which served for washing, etc. I never 
shall forget in this connexion, the influence which the "ablution'' 
had upon me the first time I assisted at your Mass. I felt and 
owned the reality. Slowly it began to break upon me that the 
'*Church" of which I was a "Deacon," was not the one Catholic, 
but one of the many Protestant sects, the leading, and most 
respectable if you will, but still. Protestant. I do not say that 
I saw all this as clearly then as I do now, but the 
unwelcome thought would break in upon me, "What if the 
Roman were the true, were the Catholic Church?" Still the 
desire to remain where I was. the feeling that these were mere 
temptations, enabled me to maintain my position with a strange 
quiet of conscience. In my walks in the discharge of my calling, 
the Cross of your Cathedral spire, glittering in the sunlight, 
would flash upon my eye, as if to tell me that there alone would 
He be found Who died for us upon it. Your Schools with the 
good Sisters would suggest unpleasant comparisons, doing ten 
times the work, with a tenth of the outlay, that others were 
elsewhere doing. The earnest faith of the poor Catholic Irish 
with zchom I met edified me exceedingly, and made me long 
for the same earnestness, and uncompromisingness in the belief 
of the truth in those with whom I dealt. The utter ignorance 
on the part of most of the English Emigrants, in the place of 
the claims of the Episcopal Church upon them, was a striking 
contrast to the manner in which their brothers and sisters from 
Ireland found their way, "true as the needle to the pole" to your 
Churches, much as there was of worldly considerations to 
impede them, llie kindness, unvaried, and uninterrupted, which 
I received from the Rector of the Parish, and from its members, 
my gratitude for which I am glad to put on record, I can never 
forget, but that could not make up for the want of Catholicit>'. 
I can only repay it by the earnest prayer that they may come 
to see, by God's grace, the utter unsecurity of the reed on 



130 




Archbishop of Now York 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



which they rest, before it breaks, and wounds their hands, 
eternally. 

So far as I have observed them the Puseyite party in America 
has never had the consistency which has characterized many 
of the members cf the same party in England. It has been a 
first principle with most of them, one with which they started, 
never to go to "Rome." They may be found consequently 
going to all sorts of extremes, one in one way, and another 
in another, but always keeping themselves within the limits of 
their sect. Their principles, in their logical consequences, lead 
directly to the Church, but with a marvellous sleight of mind, 
they arrest themselves in full course, and from the most obvious 
premises, no deduction follows. Far different has been the 
course pursued in England. Men have thrown themselves there 
into the new theory, willing to go whither God would lead them. 

"Lead, Kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, 

Lead Thou me on. 
The nig'ht is dark, and I am far from home, 

Lead Thou me on," 

has been their cry, and God has led many of them on from 
one truth to another, from one grace to another, until they 
have found themselves at the door of the Fold. Though 
to enter, they must lay aside everything, their dignity, their 
influence, the result of the labors of a lifetime, their homes, their 
hearths, with no prospect before them except their reliance 
upon the Providence of God, they have knocked and that gate 
which to those who knock in faith is ever opened has received 
them. Those, who like their American brethren have refused to 
correspond to the grace given them, are impotently struggling 
to avert the sure fate of that church in which they have placed 
their hopes, seeing it stripped of the only two Sacraments it 
retained, and gradually falling into the vortex of rationalism 
which has engulphed Continental Protestantism. 

But to return to my story, and I find myself at the period 
of my visit to Burlington. While there the chief topic of 
conversation was the action to be taken upon the "Memorial" 
of certain presbyters, and laymen, to the General Convention, 
or that part of it called the House of Bishops, proposing changes 
which would involve an alteration in the prayer-book. To my 
surprise I found the greatest sensitiveness upon this subject. 
This Church, this Catholic Church which was to be guided by 
the Holy Spirit into all truth, which if it means anything, means 



181 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



that in doctrine it cannot or was not to be trusted with a 
revision of its ritual, because once touched, it would never be 
safe. The Baptismal offices might be changed, and that part of 
them which enunciates a belief in regeneration might be left 
out. This was as you may suppose a heavy blow, one utterly 
inconsistent with the theory of those from whose mouth it 
fell. From that moment I may say my confidence in Anglican- 
ism was shaken, and though I may not have been conscious 
of it, though memories of the past, and hopes of the future, 
and ties of nature and of friendship most intimate, may have 
combined their force to enable me to shut my eyes to what 
was immediately before me, and to glose my conscience with 
a false security, from that moment I could no more find rest 
in such a sand-founded house. It may be said I should have 
asked advice in this, and all my other doubts, but what reliance 
could I place on the advice of those who admitted such a 
possibility? It may be said and truly, that I spoke sharply of 
the conversion of a dear friend, whom it is also, and not so 
truly, said I "pitied." (The object of this word is no doubt 
to lessen the moral value of his conversion. He will suflfer 
me to say that I admired in him that utter unwillingness to 
tamper with the truth, or to close his mind, for temporal con- 
siderations, to the voice of faith and reason, which has led him 
where he is.) I did speak sharply, but it was the last throe of 
Protestantism in me. I did it almost against myself. It was a 
last effort to reconcile myself to my position. On the fourth 
of August, S. Dominic's day, I returned to Newark. I had 
time during the journey for reflection and consideration. "The 
last straw was laid upon the camel's back," and it could bear 
no more. Most unwillingly I found myself afloat, adrift, no 
longer a Protestant, nor yet a Catholic. God only knows Who 
led me safely through what I endured — the thought of the 
grief at home, the breaking up of ties, and of associations which 
were dearer to me than life itself, the imputation of false 
motives — everything in fine which the heart most dreads, stood 
before me to keep me back. But His Grace was stronger than 
them all. It concerned the salvation of a never-dying soul, 
one step back, and it was lost, perhaps forever. That night, at 
Rahway, you stepped into the car in which I was. It seemed 
to me providential, and I took it as such, and determined, yes 
before I slept, for who knew that that night might be my 
last, to seek counsel, and comfort from you, who, if anyone 



132 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



could, I knew, could give it to me. All this will show how 
incorrect the inference which the facts in the statement are 
calculated to give, that I left Burlington a satisfied Protestant, 
and reached Newark a confirmed Catholic. The operation had 
been a slow, even an unconscious one, until at last, on that 
night it was brought to its resolution. There are many ways to 
the Church, and this was mine — the inconsistency, and unreality 
of Puseyism. The ass may wear the lion's skin, and pass for 
the king of beasts, but some unlucky moment will arrive when 
the fraud will be detected, and no amount of simulated roars, 
and shaking of the m.ane, and lashing of the tail, will deceive 
him who has detected it again. In this state of mind 
I went to the Rector. After a short conversation, I men- 
tioned the conversation of the friend already referred to. So 
far as I remember some epithet was used with reference to 
it, implying precipitation. I asked almost involuntarily "What 
is a man to do under these circumstances?" His reply was 
"leave his cure, investigate the subject, for whatsoever is not 
of faith, is sin." These words of Holy Scripture fell like a 
thunder clap upon me. The next day was Sunday, and I was 
to communicate at the hands of one in whom I recognized 
no more authority to celebrate that rite, than in myself. "What- 
soever is not of faith, is sin." The final influx of grace was given 
which enabled me to surmount all obstacles, and I went to you 
as one who certainly, a Bishop of the Catholic Church, could 
tell me my duty in the premises. I was excited, I freely own 
it. His heart must be of stone, who would not be at such a 
moment, but that it prevented me from knowing what I was 
doing, or served as anything more than as a stimulus to action, 
I deny. Would that all those who are now agonized by doubts, 
would do the same. You, Right Reverend Father, fully under- 
stood my position, for you had gone through the same your- 
self. In a very few words you showed me where I was, and 
what I ought to do. It was all there before, stamped upon my 
mind by God's grace, but my visit to you served as the vapor 
bath does to the metallic plate, to bring out the forms and 
features which the Sun has painted upon it. You advised me 
to be patient, and to wait, to write to Burlington, and state 
my condition. This I did. On Sunday evening I wrote to Burl- 
ington, and bade a silent farewell to the Church in which I had 
taken such interest, and to the children whom it was my greatest 
pleasure to instruct. I offered them, myself, my all, a sacrifice 



133 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



to the God who called me to leave them. In accordance with 
your advice, I went quietly home, gave myself to prayer to 
know the will of God, and endeavored to satisfy my filial duties. 
It is said that I arrived a "Papal petrefaction." From a case 
similar to my own, I knew what I had to expect, and knew 
that nothing would be left untried, no appeal to my feelings 
unused, to endeavor to swerve me from my purpose. And 
knowing how weak the flesh is, I nerved myself to the encounter. 
Had the heart had its own way, all would have been lost. 
That in it the tenderness of love was any less, I utterly deny, 
but that the avenues to it were blocked up lest through it I 
might be lost, I freely confess. If an earnest effort to follow 
God's will, even when it called for an entire immolation of all 
that the human heart holds most dear, constitute a "Papal pet- 
refaction," then I was one, but not so otherwise. Abraham was 
the same when he offered his son, his only son Isaac, at God's 
command. What had I to gain, humanly speaking? I had to 
leave a denomination composed of the most influential, learned 
and wealthy portion of the community, to attach myself to 
a Church despised, persecuted, and trodden upon. So had 
Matthew, and Peter, and the sons of Zebedee, and he whose 
father lay unburied. Did no ties of flesh draw them back, and 
if they did, what mercy did Jesus show them: "Follow thou Me." 
Forced to appear a Protestant while I was a Catholic in heart, 
to take part in service of the illegitimacy of which I was 
perfectly persuaded, my position was anything but com- 
fortable, and could not but be seen in my manner. 
Any admission on my part of having done wrong in going to 
you, must be attributed to the tremendous pressure to which 
I was subjected by my feelings at that time. As a bird, my 
soul had escaped out of the snare of the fowler, and I longed 
to flee away and be at rest. I went to Newport at the request 
of one whom it was always my greatest happiness to obey, and 
whom to oppose, as at this time, was one of the hardest trials 
to which I ever was subjected, to make some further examina- 
tion of the question. I did so, and that, which I had accepted 
on the faith of a Church, which could not err, I found perfectly 
supported by rational enquiry. And to bring this long story 
to an end, I was received by you into the Catholic Church, on the 
feast of S. Thomas of Villanova, September 22nd, A. D. 1855. 
I need not tell you. Right Reverend Father, how completely 
my assurances have been realized that I should find the Church 



134 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



to satisfy all the earnest longings of our redeemed nature; how 
the longer I live her life, and listen to her majestic voice, and 
am sustained my her Heavenly Sacraments; the more I learn of 
her ways in bringing the world to God, her works of spiritual 
and corporal mercy; the more I recognize her to be the one 
Church founded by our Blessed Lord upon the Rock against 
which the gates of hell shall not prevail; with the commission 
to teach all nations, faithfully fulfilled; and the unceasing 
evidence of His Presence which shall endure to the end of time. 

I have purposely avoided a theological discussion of the ques- 
tion. My duties leave me no time for this, and there are books 
enough for those who wish to read, such as Dr. Milner's "End of 
Controversy," Cardinal Wiseman's "Lectures on the Church," Dr. 
Ives' "Trials of A Mind," Dr. Newman's "Anglican Difficulties," 
and "Catholicism in England," Mr. Wilberforce's "Principles of 
Church Authority," Mr. Allie's "St. Peter, His Name and Of- 
fice," Dr. Hay's "Sincere Christian," and to mention no more 
the "Clifton Tracts." I would simply ask, did our Lord found 
a Church, did He give to it plentitude of jurisdiction, and 
infallibility of doctrine, did He promise to be with it forever? 
If so can it have lived, can fifteen centuries have passed away 
and His promise have come to an end to Whom "a thousand 
years are as one day?" Can He have made use of the lust of 
an English monarch to restore it to the purity it had lost? 
O! no, either His promises have been fulfilled, and the Church 
of all the ages whose centre is at Rome, and whose wide 
embrace enfolds by far the largest portion of Qiristianity, is the 
Church which He founded then; or His promises have failed 
which to admit is to become an infidel at once. Let those who 
are not of us, ask themselves these questions in perfect faith, 
and then like little children say: "Speak, Lord, for thy servant 
heareth, Teach me to do Thy will; Lord, what wilt Thou have 
me to do?" Grace will be given them to find their way to 
the Church, and once within its sacred pale, they will find that 
they have indeed entered the Church of the Living God. But 
if they arrogantly content themselves with reasoning about 
it and making the most of any little difficulty they may 
encounter, shut out the light of truth which beams upon them 
from every quarter, they will be left to their own devices as 
unworthy of the gift of faith. The earnest words of Dr. New- 
man will speak far better than I can to those who arc still 
where I was, and with them I close this letter beseeching them 
not to turn a deaf ear to such a witness: 



135 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



t "There is but one set of persons, indeed, who inspire the 
Catholic with special anxiety, as much so as the open sinner, 
who is not peculiar to any communion, Catholic or schismatic, 
and who does not come into the present question. There is 
one set of persons in whom every Catholic must feel intense 
interest, about whom he must feel the gravest apprehension: viz, 
those who have some rays of light vouchsafed to them as to 
their heresy, and as to their schism, and who seem to be clos- 
ing their eyes upon it; or those who have actually gained a clear 
view of the nothingness of their own communion, and the reality 
and divinity of the Catholic Church, yet delay to act upon their 
knowledge. You, my dear brethren, are in a very different 
state from those around you. You are called by the inscrutable 
grace of God to a great benefit, which to refuse is to be lost. 
You cannot be as others : they pursue their own way, they 
walk over this wide earth, and see nothing wonderful or glorious 
in the sun, moon, and stars of the spiritual heavens; or they 
have an intellectual sense of their beauty, but no feeling of duty 
or of love towards them; or they wish to love them, and think 
they ought not, lest they should get a distaste for the mire 
and foulness, which is their present portion. They have not 
yet had the call to enquire, and to seek and to pray for further 
guidance, infused into their hearts by the gracious spirit of 
God; and they will be judged according to what is given them, 
not by what is not. But on you the thought has dawned that 
possibly Catholicism may be true; you have doubted the safety 
of your present position, and the present pardon of your sins, 
and the completeness of your present faith. You, by means of 
that very system in which you find yourselves have been led to 
doubt that system. If the Mosaic law given from above was a 
schoolmaster to lead souls to Christ, much more is it true that an 
heretical creed, when properly understood, warns us against 
itself, and frightens us from it, and is forced against its will 
to open for us with its own hands its prison gates, and to 
show us the way into a better country. So has it been with 
you. You set out in simplicity and earnestness, intending to 
serve it, and your very serving taught you to serve another. 
You began to use its prayers, and act upon its rules, and they 
did but witness against it, and made you love it, not more but 
less, and carried off your affections to one whom you had not 
loved. The more you gazed upon your own communion, the 

tLectures on Anglican Difficulties, Lecture XI. 



136 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



more unlike it you grew; the more you tried to be good An- 
glicans, the more you found yourselves drawn in heart and 
spirit to the Catholic Church. It was the destiny of the false 
prophetess that she could not keep the little ones who devoted 
themselves to her; and the more simply they gave up their 
private judgment to her, the more sure they were of being 
thrown off by her, against their will, into the current of 
attractions which led straight to the true mother of their souls. 
So month has gone on after month, and year after year; and 
you have again and again vowed obedience to your own church, 
and you have protested against those who left her, and you 
have thought you found in them what you liked not, and you 
have prophesied evil about them, and good about yourselves; 
and your plans seemed prospering and your influence extending, 
and great things were to be; and yet, strange to say, at the 
end of the time you have found yourselves steadily advanced 
in the direction which you feared, and never were nearer to 
the promised land than you are now. 

"O, look well to your footing that you slip not; be very much 
afraid lest the world should detain you; dare not in anything to 
fall short of God's grace, or to lag behind when that grace goes 
forward. Walk with it, co-operate with it, and I know how it 
will end. You are not the first persons who have trodden that 
path; yet a little time, and please God, the bitter shall be sweet, 
and the sweet bitter, and you will have undergone the agony, 
and shall be lodged safely in the true home of your souls, and 
the valley of peace. Yet but a little while, and you will look 
out from your resting place upon the wanderers outside ; and 
wonder they do not see the way which is now so plain to you, 
and be impatient with them that they do not come on faster. 
And whereas you now are so perplexed in mind that you seem 
to yourselves to believe nothing, then you will be so full of 
faith that you will almost see invisible mysteries, and will 
touch the threshold of eternity, and you will be so full of 
joy that you will wish all around you partakers of it, as if for 
your own relief, and you will suddenly be filled with yearnings 
deep and passionate, for the salvation of those dear friends 
whom you have outstripped; and you will not mind their cool- 
ness, or stiffness, or distance, or constrained gravity for the 
love you bear to their souls. And though they will not hoar 
you, you will address yourselves to those who will ; T moan you 
will weary Heaven with your novcnas for them, and you will 



137 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



be ever getting Masses for their conversion, and you will go 
to Communion for them, and you will not rest till the bright 
morning comes, and they are yours once again. O, is it possible 
that there is a resurrection even upon earth! O, wonderful 
grace, that there should be a joyful meeting, after parting, before 
we get to Heaven! It was a weary time that long suspense, 
when with aching hearts we stood on the brink of a change, 
and it was like death to witness, and to undergo, when first one 
and then another disappeared from the eyes of their fellows, 
and their friends stood on different sides of a gulf, and for years 
knew nothing of each other, or their welfare, and then they 
fancied of each other what was not, and there were misunder- 
standings and jealousies; and each saw the other as his ghost, 
only in imagination, and in memory; and all was suspense, and 
anxiety, and hope delayed, and ill-requited care. But now it is 
all over; the morning is come; the separate shall unite. I see 
them, as if in sight of me. Look at us, my brethren, from our 
glorious land; look on us radiant with the light cast on us by 
the Saints and Angels who stand over us; gaze on us as you 
approach and kindle as you gaze. We died, you thought us 
dead, we live; we cannot return to you, you must come to us — 
and you are coming. Do not your hearts beat as you approach 
us? Do you not long for the hour which makes us one? Do 
not tears come into your eyes at the thought of the super- 
abundant mercy of your God?" 

"Sion, the city of our strength, a Saviour, a wall and a bul- 
wark shall be set therein. Open ye the gates and let the first 
nation that keepeth the truth enter in; the old error is passed 
away; Thou wilt keep peace, peace because we have hoped in 
Thee. In the way of Thj-^ judgments, O, Lord, we have 
patiently waited for Thee. Thy name, and Thy remembrance 
are the desire of the soul, O Lord our God. Other lords besides 
Thee have had dominion over us; but in Thee only may we 
remember Thy name. The dead, let them not live ; the Giants 
let them not rise again; therefore Thou hast visited, and des- 
troyed them, and hast destroyed all their memory." 

Commending myself and the object for which this is written 
to your prayers, I am. Right Reverend and very dear Father, 
Most dutifully. 

Your son in the Faith, 

GEORGE H. DOANE. 

"A Letter" reveals the sublimity of mind, the purity 



138 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

of heart, the nobility of character of the late Right 
Rev. George Hobart Doane, who in life was so often 
misunderstood, even by those most dear to him. The 
story of his conversion to Catholicity contains the 
key which unfolds the secrets of his soul in quest of 
truth; and that story is presented by the author for 
the edification of this and future generations. 

The following copy of a historic document is an 
evidence of the sacredness of the family ties that were 
broken, and the painful wounds inflicted by the step 
taken by George Hobart Doane in uniting with the 
Catholic Church: 

"DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY 
"Sentence of Deposition from the ministry in the case of 

"Rev. George Hobart Doane, M.D., Deacon. 
"To all, everywhere, who are in communion with the 
"One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: 
"Be it known that George Hobart Doane, M.D., deacon of 
this diocese, having declared to me in handwriting his 
renunciation of the ministry, which he received at my hands, 
from the Lord Jesus Christ, and his design not to officiate in 
future in any of the offices thereof, intending to submit him- 
self to the schismatical Roman instrusion, is deposed from 
the ministry, and I hereby pronounce and declare him to be 
deposed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost, Amen, 

"Given at Riverside, this fifteenth day of September, in the 
year of Our Lord 1855, and in the twenty-third of my con- 
secration. 

"G. W. DOANE, D.D., L.L.D., 

"Bishop of New Jersey. 
"In the presence of Milo Mahan, D.D, Presbyter 
"Marcus F. Hyde, A. M., Presbyter," 
"This sentence was not executed until the provision of the 
canon 'where the party has acted unadvisedly and hastily,' 
which is preeminently the present case had been offered, urged 
and refused. It only remains for me humbly to ask the prayers 
of the faithful in Christ Jesus, that my erring child may be 
brought back to the way of truth and peace; and for myself, 
that I may have grace to bear and do the holy will of God. 

"G. W. DOANE." 



139 



CHAPTER XXXI 

First Bishop of Newark 

Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bay ley, D. D., first 
Bishop of Newark, was Consecrated October 30th, 
1853. He was promotea to the Archiepiscopal See of 
Baltimore, July 30th, 1872; and he died in Newark, 
N. J., October 3d, 1877. He breathed his last in the 
presence of the late Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, D. D., 
his successor in the See of Newark; His Eminence 
James, Cardinal Gibbons, D. D., who was his Coad- 
jutor with right of succession; Right Rev. Bernard J. 
McQuaid, D. D., Bishop of Rochester; the late Right 
Rev. Mgr. George Hobart Doane, Rector of St. 
Patrick's Pro-Cathedral; the Right Rev. Joseph M. 
Flynn, M. R., V. F., at present Rector of the Church 
of the Assumption, Morristown, but then an Assistant 
Priest at the Pro-Cathedral and Chancellor of the 
Diocese; the Right Rev. Mgr. Sheppard, V. G., Rector 
of St. Mary's Jersey City, then an Assistant Priest at 
the Cathedral, and the late Rev. Thomas J. Toomey, 
also an Assistant Priest, who afterwards succeeded 
Father Dalton as Rector of St. Joseph's. 

The Newark Dailj/ Journal of the date on which 
the Most Reverend Archbishop Bayley died paid this 
tribute to the dead Prelate — a tribute written by G. 
Wisner Thorne, who was then a writer for that paper 
but who is, in this year of our Lord Nineteen 
Hundred and Eight, a Vestryman of old Trinity 



140 




Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley 
First Bishop of Newark and Archbishop of Baltimore 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Protestant Episcopal Church, and one of the owners 
of the Sunday Call: 

"At eleven o'clock this morning, the solemn tolling 
of the Cathedral bells announced the demise of Arch- 
bishop Bayley, who breathed his last about ten min- 
utes before that hour. The distinguished and revered 
servant of God whose useful life is now closed was 
well known to most people of Newark. Nineteen 
years ago he was a conspicuous resident among us. 
On all hands to-day one sees the fruits of his work 
here, in churches and orphanages, and schools. Up 
and down the State are similar monuments to the 
zealous and faithful discharge of the heavy duties 
which his high office in the Church imposed upon him. 
A man who thus stamps his mark everywhere about 
him need hardly be set forth in his life and character 
in the community which was the field of his labors. 
Those who knew personally Bishop Bayley knew a 
disciple of Christ, full of benignity, humility and 
loveliness, with a quiet dignity that always com- 
manded respect for him, and yet a measure of 
sympathy and tenderness that attracted all towards 
him as to a friend. They knew a Prelate endowed with 
wisdom, learning, high administrative ability and zeal 
for the propagation of the form of Christianity in 
which he believed, combined with all consistent tolera- 
tion of the faith of others; a gentleman of culture, 
with manners simple, refined and agreeable. 

"It is not often that one meets a man who measures 
up closer to the common ideal of a well-rounded 
perfect character. For instance, he was bold and 
aggressive, like St. Paul, with convictions that mani- 
fested themselves in unceasing toil, despite obstacles 
and discouragements. The number of Churches which 



141 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



sprung; up under his rule in the Diocese of Newark — 
Seton Hall College, the Convent School at Madison, 
the asylums for children, the hospitals, the schools 
in every parish — testify that he was 'in labors most 
abundant.' At the same time he was loving, like St. 
John. He had a most charitable spirit. While a 
firm believer in the Catholic Church, he desired peace 
and friendliness with all Christians, disliked contro- 
versies and demonstrations likely to stir up bitter 
contentions. In all things he w^as conciliatory, when 
conciliation was not compromise. When he first came 
to Newark and began his work of establishing here the 
Catholic religion, no little opposition was excited 
among people who regarded the Roman Catholic 
Church as a foreign institution and a foe to liberty 
and enlightenment. He alluded to this in his sermon 
in the Cathedral on the day of the Consecration of the 
edifice two or three years ago, and gladly testified 
that this bitter feeling against him in time passed 
away, and that for many years had he found among 
Protestants many warm friends. It passed away 
because instead of meeting the outside opposition 
with polemical sermons or pamphlets, or showing in 
any w^ay a belligerent spirit, he quietly went on with 
his official duties. He chose, by founding Seton Hall 
College for the higher education of Catholic youths, 
in St. Elizabeth's Academy at Madison, and other 
educational institutions, to make this answer to the 
charges raised against the cause which he represented. 
''As a preacher Archbishop Bayley was effective 
and pleasing. His imposing presence would have 
fixed ujjon him the attention of a congregation, though 
his address had been less engaging. Of full height, 
with a well-rounded but not heavy figure, a massive, 



142 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

handsome head, a forehead broad and high, from 
which the hair was brushed back, a face fine in every 
feature and pleasing in its expression of mild dignity, 
goodness of heart and intellectual strength, he was 
commanding in person, whether in plain broadcloth or 
wearing the rich canonicals, with the Mitre upon his 
head and the Golden Crozier in his hand. In direct 
and often plain language he gave vigorous expression 
to his thoughts. His discourses might be beautiful in 
diction ; they were sure to be forceful and instructive. 
In delivery he was intensly earnest, and yet calm and 
easy, for culture ever tempers and moderates. Eage, 
as some one has well said, is vulgar, and even 
vehemence, it may also be stated, is not characteristic 
of men of refinement and high attainments. None the 
less, though, is their address impressive. Surely the 
people who were accustomed to hear Bishop Bayley's 
voice from the pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral will 
testify that quiet as it was, its tones penetrated not 
into the ears only, but into the inmost heart. * * * 
The world and especially the city of his home, is 
better because of the life of James Roosevelt Bayley. 
And his work is not yet done, for his holy influence 
shall long hold sway over the hearts in which the 
memory of his blessed life shall be treasured.'^ 

After Solemn Requiem Mass had been celebrated 
for the repose of his Soul on the following Friday, 
the body of Archbishop Bayley was forwarded to 
Baltimore, accompanied by Bishop Corrigan and 
many Priests of the Newark Diocese. Solemn Mass 
of Recjuiem was celebrated in the Cathcnlral of 
Baltimore, October 10th, and the body of xVrchbishop 
Bayk'y was taken to Emmettsburg, Md. "In the 
centre of the Sistc^rs' God's Acre is a mortuary chapel 



143 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

near the front of which is a marble slab bearing the 
inscription : 

'S.\CKED TO THE MEUOKY OF 

•E. A. SETON. 
'Foundress." 

"Here," adds Mgr. Fljnn's history, "side by side, 
the saintly Bayley, the sainted Mother Seton — aunt 
and nephew — await a glorious resurrection." 




144 




Second Bishop of Newark and Archbiihop of New York 



CHAPTER XXXII 

The Second Bishop of Newark 

The second Bishop of Newark was the Right Rev. 
Michael Augustine Corrigan, D. D. He was Conse- 
crated by Most Rev. John McCloskey, Archbishop of 
New York, in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, on Sunday, 
May 4th, 1873; promoted to the Archiepiscopal 
See of Petra October 1st, 1880; and succeeded to 
the Archiepiscopal See of New York, October 10th, 
1885. March 4th, 1886, he was solemnly installed as 
the third Archbishop of New Y^ork. Archbishop 
Corrigan celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a Priest 
September 27th, 1888. He died May 5th, 1902, at 
the Archiepiscopal house, New York. The Pontifical 
Mass of Requiem for the repose of his soul was 
celebrated by His Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons, 
Archbishop of Baltimore; and besides Arclibishops, 
Bishops, Mitred Abbots and Monsignori, there were 
nearly one thousand Priests and about seven tliousand 
of the laity in attendance. l*resident Roosevelt sent 
a Avreath of flowers from i]\e White House with a 
card attached inscribed simply ^'The l^resident." 

Most Rev. P. J. Ryan, D. D., Archbishop of IMiihi- 
delphia, preached the panegyi'ic. It was ho who occu- 
pied tlie ])uli)it of St. l^atviek's (\itliedr;il wIumi Arch- 
bisliop (yorrigan was fonmilly inshilU'd Avclibisiiop 
of New York. Among oilier tilings lie said: *'We 
often liear men of (he world sav nowadavs dial ihc 



145 



HISTORY OP ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



day of nierc'ly iiscetic liishops and Triests has passed 
away;" that ^'asceticism was all well enough in the 
Middle Ages," and "we want the sterling public man." 
"r>nt," he continued, "the truth is we want tlie com- 
bination of both, the combination of the ascetic with 
the i)ublic man, but the larger element of asceticism 
in that combination. Such was the departed Arch- 
bishop of New York — the three Archbishops of 
til is See represented tliese features of the human 
character. The Most Rev. John Hughes repre- 
sented courage, fearless courage at a time, too, 
when it was needed. Cardinal McCloskey represented 
marvelous prudence that won without fighting. The 
late Archbishop might be regarded as belonging to the 
class of Cardinal McCloskey, yet when a principle was 
at stake the lamb became a lion, and he was found 
fearless as was ever Archbishop Hughes. The Arch- 
bishop w^as himself as a rock gently yielding, mossy 
on the surface, but beneath all the gentleness, stn^ngth 
and power and immovability of principle were found. 
The late Cardinal McCloskey told me that Archbishop 
Corrigan did all that he could that his name should 
not be sent to Kome as Coadjutor, with the right of 
succession to this See. He was afraid of the responsi- 
bilities. * * * A newspaper of this city of high 
literary standing lias said of the late Archbishop that 
'as tlie perfume of the virtues of St. Francis of 
Assissium still remains amongst men, after so many 
centuries, so shall the perfume of the virtues of Arch- 
bishop Corrigan survive amongst liis people.' " 

This was indeed a deserving tribute to a Prince of 
God's Holy Church. Looking back to his childhood 
and boyliood days in St. John's Parish where he was 
born, at whose baptismal font his soul was regenerated 



14G 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



in whose schools he received his primary education 
and drank in lessons of piety and love from the lips 
of his saintly mother, well may the parishioners of 
this day rejoice that one so deserving received such 
honors. When Dr. Corrigan was consecrated Bishop 
of Newark he was thirty-four years old. Bishop Mc- 
Quaid preached from the text : "Go teach all nations, 
and behold I am with you all days even to the con- 
summation of the world." Nearly every American 
graduate of the American College, Kome, was present 
in honor of Bishop Corrigan, who was one of the most 
talented graduates of that institution. In the evening 
of the day of his Consecration Bishop Corrigan gave 
audience to the members of the St. Vincent de Paul 
Society and other prominent laymen, when Paul V. 
Flynn read an address, from which these excerpts are 
taken : 

"In common with our fellow Catholics of this important 
Diocese, we bewailed the departure from amongst us of that 
eminent and well beloved Prelate whose piety and learning- 
reflected so much lustre not only on the exalted order of the 
Priesthood to which he belonged, but also on our whole 
community. 'Powerful in work and word,' he was our conso- 
lation and our strength. Deeply did we grieve when he was 
taken from us, although called to a higher Pontificate, and 
constituted Primate of the Catholic Church in these United 
States. 

"We v/ere not, however, doomed to suffer an irreparable loss. 
On hearing the glad tidings that, in the appointment of a 
successor to the illustrious Bishop Bayley, the choice of the 
Holy Father had fallen on a member of the Priesthood so well 
known and so highly esteemed as you have so long been. 
Right Reverend Bishop, our sorrow was changed into joy. 
Well might we rejoice when it was announced that learning 
and piety were to be honored once more amongst us — that an 
ecclesiastic distinguished by ability and acquirements, no less 
than by sanctity of life, was selected by the Chief See, "the 
Mother and Mistress of all the Churches," to hold rule over 
us — to feed the sheep together with the lambs of onv portion 



147 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



of the Fold. * * * \Vc rejoice to reflect that you, Right 
Reverend Bishop, possess the learning, the talent and the zeal 
which will prompt you and enable you to hold up the torch of 
true science before the proud intellect of the age which boasts 
itself superior to Divine Revelation and everything that flows 
therefrom. You will bear its light into the darkest places; and 
thus, in due time, will be broken the bonds of all those whose 
tendency is to love righteousness and abhor iniquity. ♦ * * 
"As children of the Celtic race, we delight more than words 
can express to behold j'-ou, Right Reverend Bishop, entering on 
a career which, it is our firm and well-founded hope, will be 
no less successful, no less fruitful in great and abiding results 
than were the labors of the renowned Apostles of our people. 
Not your zeal only, your learning and your ability, but, at 
the same time also, the progress of past years, so consoling 
to us all, and the wide and varied field to which you have been 
so wisely called, encourage us to believe that the long day^ 
(multus annos) — may they be many — of your Pastoral life, will 
be blessed a hundred fold — will be crowned with such labors of 
love and such abundance of Apostolic fruit, that succeeding 
generations, as they pass, will point to this time as an epoch 
not less glorious in the annals of the Church of the New World 
than was that of Columbanus in Gaul and Lombardy, that of 
Columba among the Celtic and Pictish tribes of both Scotias, 
or of the Holy Aidanus in the midst of Saxon Northumbria." 

Bishop Corrigan, as reported by the daily press, 
"very feelingly replied, thanking the members of the 
Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the expression of 
good wishes toward him. Their flattering words were 
no doubt prompted by kindness of heart. No other 
delegation of the laity, he said, could it give him 
greater pleasure to receive than that of St. Vincent 
de Paul — on account of its works of charity among 
tlie poor and lowly. He oncouragod the members to 
persevere and in all things he would be with them. 
The Bishop then paid a well deserved tribute to Most 
Reverend Dr. Bayley, and after giving his Blessing 
he retired.'' 



148 




Rt. Rev. Winand Michael Wigger, D. D. 
Third Bishop of Newark 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

The Third Bishop of Newark 

Right Rev. Winand Michael Wigger, D. D., third 
Bishop of Newark, was consecrated by Most Rev. 
Michael Augustine Corrigan, D. D., Archbishop of 
Petra, in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, on the Feast 
of St. Luke, October 18th, 1881. He was born in New 
York city, December 9th, 1841. His parents were 
natives of Westphalia. The future Bishop made his 
classical studies in the College of St. Francis Xavier, 
and was graduated in 1860, receiving his A. B. degree, 
and, in 1862, the degree A. M. was also conferred upon 
him by that institution of learning. His theological 
studies, which were begun in Seton Hall, South 
Orange, were finished in the Collegio Bregnole-Sale, 
Genoa; and on June 10th, 1865, he was ordained 
Priest by Archbishop Charres, of Genoa. Returning 
to the Diocese of Newark, Doctor Wigger was attached 
to St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral four years as assistant 
to Father Doane, "where," quoth Mgr. Flynn's The 
Catholic Church in 'New Jersicy, "he gave edification 
as a i)ious, zealous, faithful Priest. His zeal never 
flagged, and in his devotion to tlie sick and atllicted 
he never wearied." 

A Joint Committee representing St. Patrick's, St. 
John's, St. Mary's, St. James', St. Peter's, St. 
Josei)h's, St. Columba's, St. Augustine's, St. Antoni- 



149 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

mis', St. Michael's, St. Aloysius' and St. Benedict's 
Parishes of Newark, and St. Pius', of Harrison ( now 
Holj Cross), was appointed by the respective Pastors 
to present an address on behalf of the laity to the 
Bishop in the evening of the day of his Consecration. 
The late Right Rev. Mgr. G. H. Doane selected the 
author for Chairman. The address was illuminated 
by the Sisters of St. Dominic of the Perpetual 
Adoration, and the names of all the members of the 
Committee were attached. All the Parochial Societies 
turned out, the greater number bearing torches. 
The Xcw York Frcemairs Journal stated that there 
were five thousand people assembled in Bleecker and 
intersecting streets and on the house tops in the 
vicinity. From the address these excerpts are taken : 

"We, representing the lay portion of your flock, joyfully seek 
your presence on this auspicious occasion, and, with thankful 
hearts, offer to you our warmest congratulations. It appears to us 
to be of the most happy augury that the Diocese in which you are 
by Divine appointment called to exercise in its plenitude the sublime 
office of the Christian Priesthood, and in which within a brief period 
of time we have witnessed most exalted honors conferred by the 
Holy See upon your illustrious predecessors resembles in a most 
important respect the varied world in which it fell to the lot of the 
great Doctor of the Hebrews to fulfill the duties of his Apostleship. 
This circumstance, although it may not be without its difficulties, 
any more than was the position of the divine St. Paul, will elicit 
and cause to shine forth and enlighten mankind the true Pastoral 
Spirit, the untiring zeal, the inexhaustible charity of the Apostle- 
ship. Paul was a Hebrew and at the same time a Roman citizen. 
He was highly educated, and yet the rude barbarian was the same 
to him as the refined Greek. He was specially the Apostle of the 
Gentiles; but he knew not Jew from Gentile. All who received the 
heavenly message from his lips were, without distinction of nation- 
ality, his most dear children in Christ. 

"We, the laity of the Diocese of Newark, various as we are in race 
and origin, recognizing in you, our Right Reverend Pastor, the 
true Apostolic Spirit, approach you as one united people — united 
by a stronger tie than that of blood or nationality — and claim you 



150 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



as our common Father whose noble destiny it will be to rule over us 
as the children of one family. 

"We cannot conclude without congratulating our newly conse- 
crated and Right Reverend Bishop on the happy circumstance that 
he is called to hold rule over a body of Priests whose piety and 
proficiency in all ecclesiastical learning are so well known. The 
study of Canon Law is also now more in honor than in the earlier 
days of the Church's growth in the United States. This will also 
facilitate the labors of your Episcopate. It may indeed, be neces- 
sary on occasions — may they be few and far between! — to call into 
action the full measure of that power with which they are entrusted 
who 'are called to rule the Church of God.' But, where sound 
learning and good will exist so extensively, such cases can hardly 
be supposed. The Reverend Clergy understand full well the two- 
fold bond which binds them to their Chief, and their Chief to 
then — 'Ohedientia et Dilectio.' So it will be given to the Right 
Reverend Pastor of the Diocese to obey the dictates of the piety 
for which he is distinguished and rule, like a tender parent, over 
his children, or as an elder Brother on whom has devolved the 
care and government of the juniors of the family: 'Primogenitus 
inter multos fratres.'" 

Keplying, the Eight Kev. Bishop said in part : 

"The Clergy of the Diocese have from the beginning been kind 
enough to testify their good will and to express their confidence in 
the success of my administration. And now you, gentlemen, repre- 
senting the thousands of Catholics of this great city and Harrison, 
come to assure me of your respect, your good will and of your 
confidence in me. This encouragement on the part of both Clergy 
and laity is a great consolation to me — a consolation that is deeply 
felt and deeply appreciated. It gives me reason to hope that I may in 
some manner be able to continue the successful work of the first 
Bishop of this Diocese — the great and saintly Bayley — and of my 
immediate predecessor, the pious and learned Archbishop Corrigan. 
* * * You have been kind enough to refer to the piety and 
proficiency of the Clergy of the Diocese. I am very happy to be able 
to endorse this good opinion. The fact of many well conducted 
Parochial Schools alone speaks volumes in their favor. The laity 
certainly deserve great credit for their generosity and liberality 
in this matter, but we must not forget to give full measure of 
praise to the Clergy. My relations with them, I am sure, will bo of 
the kindest and most friendly; for this nothing is required but 
good will on both sides. I have practical proofs that it exists on 



151 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



the part of the Reverend Clergy, and I am certain that it is not 
wanting in nie." 

When the Bishoi)s of the l*roviiU'e of New York 
were about to assemble for the purpose of consider- 
ing the selection of a successor to Bishop Corrigan, 
who had been created an Archbishop and appointed 
Coadjutor to Archbishop McCloskey, with the right 
of succession, the Eight Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, of 
the See of Rochester, stopped oft the train at Taterson 
en route to New York, and called upon his old friend. 
Dean McNulty, Pastor of St. John's, that city. In 
reply to the inquiry of the Bishop: "Who is the 
fittest man in the Diocese to succeed Archbishop 
Corrigan?" the venerable Father McNulty answered: 
"There is only one man worthy to be chosen, 
and that one is Doctor Wigger of Madison."* Doctor 
Wigger was the second choice of the Bishops for the 
See of Newark and their first choice for the new See 
of Trenton which was about to be created by the Holy 
See. The first choice of the Bishops for NcAvark was 
the Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell, Pastor of St. Peter's, 
Barclay street, New Y^ork, who was a scholarly man 
and one of the best historians in America. They 
thought the best interests of Seton Hall College would 
be conserved by his selection. His name was placed 
at the head of the list for Newark. But when the 
Papal Bulls were received, it was found that Father 
O'Farrell was named for Trenton, and Doctor Wigger 
for Newark. In his history Mgr. Flynn says : 

"The contraposition of the names then caused considerable dis- 
cussion and various groundless causes were alleged therefor. 



*TAg Catholic Church in New 'Jersey. 

From another source, however, the author learns that Father McNulty 
answered: "There are several very worthy Priests in the Diocese who 
possess the requirements for a good Bishop. What do you think of the 
little Doctor In Madison?" 



152 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



The truth is that among the Cardinals to whom the choice was 
referred was Cardinal Franzelin. With that racial loyalty which 
is characteristic of the German family, His Eminence perceiving 
that Doctor Wigger was first on one list for Trenton and second 
on another, contended, and successfully, that the more important 
Diocese should be assigned to him." 

The ways of Providence are indeed wonderful — 
often mysterious, viewed through finite spectacles. 
How often does not Almighty God make use of the 
meek and the lowly that He might confound the proud 
and the mighty? And was not the appointment of 
Dr. Wigger as Bishop of Newark strongly in evidence 
of this truth? Measured by the standard of greatness 
which the world has raised for itself, he was not a 
great man. He was not endowed with a giant mind. 
He was not profoundly learned in the sciences ; but in 
the Science of Keligion, the knowledge of God, he was 
truly well grounded. He was not the polished, 
scholarly man, like Bishop Bayley, Bishop Corrigan 
and Bishop O'Connor, but he combined distinguishing 
traits which have slione forth resplendently in the 
lives of these illustrious Princes of the Church. With 
him the performance of duty was paramount. He was 
a man who weighed well before acting ; but reaching a 
conclusion he stood like unto a rock. His humility 
of heart, child-like simplicity and widespread charity 
were universally recognized. Prior to his elevation 
to the Episcopacy, Doctor Wigger gave a dinner to 
Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop Corrigan, Bishop 
McQuaid and others, including a prominent layman — 
one of the parishioners of St. Vincent's, Madison. At 
the dinner. Bishop McQuaid asked the prominent 
lay guest: "How do the people in Madison like Dr. 
Wigger?" The answer came: "We like him very 
well indeed; but ho has one great fault — he never 



153 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

calls upon his weiiltliy parishioners; he goes around 
all the time visiting among the poor." 

Right Kev. Bishop Wigger was a manly man. He 
achieved greatness, like unto the Saints. In the 
early years of his Episcopacy, his path was not strewn 
with roses; and the first thorn in his Mitre was the 
selection of his Vicar-General. He first thougJit of 
appointing the Rev. Januarius De Concillio, a learned 
theologian, to be his alter ego. A few of the Irish- 
American Priests held such a selection in disfavor, 
preferring one of their own nationality. The late 
James A. McMaster, Editor of the New York Free- 
man^ s Journal^ sent this message to Bishop Wigger 
through the author, who was then the Newark 
correspondent of that paper: "Say to Bishop 
Wigger," said he, "that the Freeman's Journal is most 
desirous that his administration, like unto the 
administration of his illustrious predecessors, should 
be successful in the highest degree; that we desire 
him to make no mistake in the selection of a Vicar- 
General; that we have no individual interest to 
subserve, that we have no one in particular to 
recommend; but that it would be an egregious, a 
stupendous blunder, should he appoint Father De 
Concillio. There are many priests in the Diocese of 
Newark," added the Abbe ^Mc^I aster, "any one of 
whom would fill the office of Vicar-General with 
credit. If any of the older Priests are not considered, 
the Bishop will make no mistake by selecting a young 
Priest who will grow old in years and wisdom with 
himself. The hope of the Church is in the young 
Priesthood; in the natural order, 'the old must die, 
and the young may die.' One by one the old Priests 
will pass away; and the young will take their place 



154 





/. 




The Author 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

and carry on the work. His appointment of a young 
Priest as Vicar-General will be the means of rallying 
around him the whole Priesthood of his Diocese. The 
young men will prove his source of strength, his joy, 
his consolation, and the realization of his best hopes." 
This message was delivered and kindly received. The 
Bishop said he had made no appointment, reports to 
the contrary notwithstanding, but he was giving the 
matter his prayerful consideration. He had written 
to Father De Concillio, apprising him of his (the 
Bishop's) intention to appoint him Vicar-General, 
but as yet no such appointment had been made. 
"When a Vicar-General is appointed," the Bishop 
added, "such appointment cannot be recalled or 
revoked unless for cause." 

In 1886, before the Right Rev. Bishop Wigger sailed 
for Europe to make his initial decennial visit to the 
Tomb of the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, at 
Rome he appointed a Vicar-General — the Very Rev. 
William P. Salt, Spiritual Director of the Seminary 
at Seton Hall; and the selection was universally 
hailed with satisfaction throughout the Diocese. The 
author, meeting the Bishop on board the steamer an 
hour before sailing, congratulated him upon the 
appointment. The Bishop replied: "It would seem to 
have been an inspiration; I did not think of Father 
Salt until after saying Mass a few days ago — Mass 
offered with the intention that Almighty God might 
aid me to select a Priest for His greater honor and 
glory." "Well, Bishop," said the author, "God 
indeed, has answered your prayer. He is good to the 
Irish, you know;" and one of his broad smiles 
illumined the face of the good l^isliop. 

When the Papal Bulls appointing him r>ishop of 



155 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Newark reached Doctor Wigger on September 30th, 
1881, he immediately assumed the jurisdiction of the 
Diocese, relieving the Right Rev. Mgr. Doane, 
Administrator ; and after his Consecration the follow- 
ing month one of his first official acts was to '^revali- 
date some of the appointments made during the 
vacancy in the See, which were held by the Bishop 
and his advisers to be irregular, 'to say the least, 
doubtful as to their validity.''' — {The Catholic 
Church in Neiv Jersey^ p. 480). Among the alleged 
"irregular" or "doubtful" appointments which were 
confirmed by the Bishop was that of the Rev. Joseph 
M. Flynn, whom Mgr. Doane had promoted from a 
curacy at the Pro-Cathedral to be Pastor of the 
Church of the Assumption, Morristowm. 

Bishop Wigger took a deep interest in promoting 
Catholic education — the Parochial Schools were as 
the apple of his eye. He also manifested great 
interest in the Seminary at Seton Hall; he laid the 
corner stone of the new Cathedral June 11th, 1899; 
Pontificated for the last time at St. Patrick's Pro- 
Cathedral on Christmas Day, 1900, and died of 
pneumonia twelve days later, January 5th, 1901. 
Funeral services were held January 10th, in St. 
Patrick's Pro-Cathedral. Archbishop Corrigan offici- 
ated, and Bishop McFaul of Trenton pronounced the 
panygeric. The interment was made in the Cemetery 
of the Holy Sepulchre. 

Mgr. Flynn, in his history thus describes Bishop 
Wigger : "Bishop Wigger was of medium height and 
slender frame, and withal he undertook labors under 
which a stronger man would succumb. In his friend- 
ships he was firm and loyal. To the unfortunate he 
was Christ-like in his tenderness and sympathy. 



156 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Bishop Wigger was absolutely disinterested and 
unselfish, and his poverty truly Apostolic, as may be 
judged from this extract from his diary : 

This morning I go for the first time to Saratoga, to drink the 
waters, and see if they will cure my biliousness, which has troubled 
me for some time back. I will be away all the week. Mr. J. J. 
Keane, of Jersey City, accompanies me, and pays all expenses. Had 
he not invited me and kindly volunteered to pay all expenses, I 
could not have gone, I am so poor. When I was only a simple 
Priest I was always more or less in debt. Only once did I succeed 
in laying by $ioo. In less than three months all had disappeared. 
Since I have been Bishop things are worse even. My personal 
debts are larger than formerly. There is some comfort in knowing 
that I have not spent much on myself; I have never done that. 
The money has been given to others, generally in charity. I hope 
God will reward me for it. There is very little besides this 
for which to reward me.' — Reg. Dioc. 271." 



mm 



157 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

THOUGHTS OX BISHOP WTGGER'S DE.\TH. 
By Michael J. Mltj-ex. 

From the heart of the Diocese rises this wall — 
Coaling oat from the city, the mountain and vale; 
"Be Thou patient, O Lord, with our Shepherdless flock. 
For, though loyal to Thee and the Church on the Rock, 
We are fevered with grief, for our Bishop is dead. 
And some hopes of our faith are ni^h palled with dread. 
For we fear our good-bye Is eternal farewell. 
As his spirit has gone where the sainted ones dwell ; 
And 'tis said when a soul gains Thy haven of blias, 
Tls too pore to revisit a planet like this. 

But. oh, is it true that the soul when it flies 
From its earthly abode to a home in the skies — 
To that mystical realm where eternally rest. 
With the angels of God, the pure souls of the blest — 
No commnnion will hold with the spirits below. 
That its prayers and blessings we never more know. 
That its love and our love are divided fore'er. 
And our fate in this world is a life of despair? 

Ah ! no, 'tis not so ; for the kind Father who gave 

His Son to r«^eem us, to strengthen and save. 

To each human nature a presentment gives 

That after we die there is something that lives. 

And that something doth speak, by the Fathers control. 

To the heart and the mind — Tis the Voice of the Soul I 

And it tells us. dear friends, that in peace and in strife. 

The souls of the dead will be with us through life. 



Else why the strange yearnings of the heart and of 

To pierce the sky curtain, know the secrets behind? 

And why. too, as we grow in the years more mature- 

And the trials of life are more hard to endure — 

Do we pray for a future devoid of all strife. 

When we bid our farewell to the cares of this life? 

That there is a hereafter, no Christian can doubt. 

For even proud Science, who did reason it out 

That 'twas only a dream, is now forced to admit 

The truth of Christ's teaching, by the Fisherman's writ. 

Then, instead of lamenting our Bishop's decease, 
L^t us pray that his soul may rest ever in peace ; 
That the smile we so often saw lighten his face. 
May Illumine his soul in the Kingdom of Grace; 
That when the I>eath Angel shall open his pall 
Our souls may be ready to answer his call. 
So oar Bishop can come at the Fathers behest 
To escort as on high to the Home of the Blest ! 



158 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

The Fourth Bishop of Newark 

The Eight Reverend John Joseph O'Connor, D. D., 
fourth Bishop of Newark, was Consecrated by Most 
Reverend Michael Augustine Corrigan, D. D., Arch- 
bishop of New York, in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, 
July 25th, 1901. The Assistant Bishops were Right 
Rev. James A. McFaul, D. D., LL. D., of Trenton, 
and Right Rev. Charles E. McDonnell, D. D., of 
Brooklyn. There were present Right Rev. Bernard J. 
McQuaid, D. D., of Rochester, Right Rev. Patrick A. 
Ludden, D. D., of Syracuse, the Priests of the See of 
Newark, and many of the Reverend Clergy from New 
York. The sacred edifice was thronged. The Bishop 
of Rochester preached the sermon. It was the third 
Consecration oration which he delivered in the Pro- 
Cathedral; he had discharged a like function at the 
Consecration of Bishop Corrigan and Bishop Wigger. 

Bishop O'Connor is a native of Newark, of Irish 
parentage. He was born in the Parish of St. James 
the Less, June 11th, 1855, and was baptized by the 
Rev. James Callan, the second Pastor. Had the 
future Bishop first seen the light of day two years 
anterior to his birth, old St. John's could claim him 
as one of lier children; but tliere is pleasure in the 
thought that as St. James the Less is one of tlie off- 
springs of St. John's, the old IMotlier Cliurch regards 
him as a briglit exam])le of an illustrious nephew! 



159 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

John Joseph O'Connor was graduated from Seton 
Hall in 1S73 ; and, "as Archbishop Corrigan stated in 
his address on the day of Bishop O'Connor's consecra- 
tion, the young graduate was sent to Rome that he 
might one day succeed him as Bishop of the Diocese." 
— {The Catholic Church in Xeic Jersey). He spent 
four years in the American College, Rome, and one 
year in Lou vain. On December '2.1d, 1^17, he was 
ordained Priest by Mgr. de Ant bonis. 

Father O'Connor was appointed Professor in Seton 
Hall College and Seminary. He became Director of 
the Seminary, and Bishop Wigger appointe^l him 
Vicar-General, succeeding the Very Rev. William P. 
Salt. He was appointed Rector of St. Joseph's 
Church, Newark, October 30th, 1S95. On the death 
of Bishop Wigger, Father O'Connor was appointed 
Administrator of the Diocese. Right Rev. Joseph M. 
Flynn's history says of his life in Seton Hall : 

"During the eighteen years that he assisted in the 
Diocesan Seminary in training the young Levites, as 
professor of both philosophy and theology, by his 
unremittent care, gentleness, and piety he endeared 
himself to all. In this difficult and most divine of 
all works his career was marked by firmness without 
obstinacy, kindness without weakness, and by zeal 
tempered with charity. How richly he stored his 
mind while imparting Catholic teaching to those 
under his care is clearly evident in his discourses, 
addresses, and letters, which show him to be the 
finished scholar and an orator of rare merit." 

Bishop O'Connor celebrated Solemn Pontifical Mass 
in St. Patrick's Pro- Cathedral, on Tuesday, November 
3d. 1903 — the Fiftieth Anniversary of the arrival 
and installation in the See of Newark of Right Rev. 



160 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



James Koosevelt Bayley, D. D., the first Bishop. In 
the Sanctuary were His Excellency, Most Rev. 
Diomede Falconio, Apostolic Delegate; Most Rev. 
John M. Farley, D. D., Archbishop of New York; 
Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester; Bishop McDonnell, of 
Brooklyn, and Bishop McFaul, of Trenton. There 
were upwards of three hundred priests present. The 
sermon was preached by the Bishop of Rochester, 
who was the only survivor of all the clergymen who 
took part in the installation ceremonies of the first 
Bishop of Newark. 

At the close of the religious services in the Pro- 
Cathedral, the clergy attended a banquet in the 
Krueger Auditorium. Addresses were made by His 
Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, Most Rev. Arch- 
bishop Farley, Right Rev. Mgr. Doane, Right Rev. 
Bishop McQuaid, Very Rev. William McNulty, of 
Paterson, Rev. Andrew M. Egan, and Bishop 
O'Connor. 

On Wednesday evening, November 4th, "the 
laity of the Diocese who responded to the appeal 
of Bishop O'Connor" for funds towards the erection 
of the New Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, "assembled 
in the Kreuger Auditorium." The late venerable 
Michael Rowe, Aeneas Fitzpatrick (one of the early 
pioneers) and Charles Bogan, father of Rev. Bernard 
M. Bogan, were among the guests. The Cathedral 
Fund Committee, Mgr. Sheppard, IMgr. Flynn and 
Rev. Charles J. Kelly, LL. D., introduced the guests 
to the Bishop. The banquet over. Doctor Kelly 
introduced former United States Senator James 
Smith, Jr., to respond to tlie toast, "Tlie Charms of 
the Old Cathedral." The Senator's speech was 
impromptu. lie was born, he said, in St. Patrick's 



1()1 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Parish, baptized in St. Patrick's Church, enjoyed the 
privilege of making his first Holy Communion and 
receiving tli(^ Sacraments of Confirmation and 
Matrimony within the walls of the sacred edifice, and 
there was an added personal cliarm — he had seen 
his family grow up under its loving care. But the 
greatest of all the charms of the Old Pro-Cathedral 
was the bond of unity and affection which had always 
existed between the Reverend Clergy and their people. 
No differences had ever arisen in the Paiish since its 
organization; and whenever a Pastor appealed for 
financial aid for any cause, the loyal flock responded 
liberally. "When the new^ Cathedral of the Sacred 
Heart is finished,'- continued Senator Smith, "the 
Catholics of the Diocese of Newark will have one of 
the grandest edifices dedicated to the service of the 
ever living God in the United States, and dear Old 
St. Patrick's, the daughter of Old St. John's (the 
cradle of the Diocese), will no longer be the Pro- 
Cathedral— but plain St. Patrick's Church. While 
all Catholics throughout the Diocese may be proud of 
the new edifice, the Catholics of the City of Newark — 
especially those of St. Patrick's Parish — will ever 
retain their love for the Old Pro-Cathedral. With all 
its grandeur, the new^ Cathedral can never rob St. 
Patrick's of the associations and memories which have 
made the old Church so endearing to the hearts of 
the laity. Thousands have been married before her 
altar, their children have had the regenerating waters 
poured upon their heads at her haptismal font and 
were received into the fold of Christ; while countless 
others ^^ ho had fought the good fight had been fortified 
by the Sacraments before appearing at the Tribunal 
of Judgment and the last rites performed over their 



162 




Miles F. Quinn. Senior Trustee 



IEI^^^T'^T^3^SKSr^^K^S^IT^r 



I 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



bodies; before being laid in their last resting place. 
The present generation and those of the past who still 
live, as they enter her portals to worship, or in passing 
by look upon her modest exterior, cannot fail to recall 
many events connected with their lives. They will 
remember the trials, incident to the erection of the 
Church; that within her sacred walls have labored 
men whose lives were consecrated to the service of 
God from Father Senez to the Eight Kev. Mgr. George 
Hobart Doane — all of whom have gained honorable 
place in the Priesthood and Heirarchy of the Church ; 
that from the children of the Pro-Cathedral Parish 
were sent many Priests who went to other fields of 
labor and erected Churches for the people to worship 
in, and schools in which their children were given a 
good religious and secular education, fitting them to 
be good citizens; that many young women of the old 
Parish entered religious communities and consecrated 
their lives to the education of children and the care of 
the orphans, the sick and the aged; finally that 
through the zeal of those who labored within the 
Sanctuary have sprung institutions of learning second 
to none, institutions for the physical and religious 
welfare of those who were left without home or 
parents, and for the treatment of the afflicted.'' 

Hon. William J. Kearns, a counsellor-at-law, of 
tliis city, responded to the toast, "Our New Cathedral." 
The new Cathedral, he said, must be viewed by us of 
to-day as an existing and accomplished fact, even 
tliough it has not been (Mitirely built, for behind the 
project was the will and force and ability of this 
great and growing Diocese. The speaker gave an 
interesting technical description of the edifice, and 
added: "Such is tlie noble edifice, to the construc- 



1()3 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



tion of which the Catholics of the Diocese stand 
willing to contribute, for we certainly have the same 
practical abiding faith, although, perhaps less denom- 
strative and enthusiastic in the outward manifestation 
of it, as had the people of the ages past. We believe 
as firmly and sincerely as did they that no outlay is 
too great, no siicrifice too hard, no burden too lieavy, 
which we may make and assume for the proper 
housing of our Eucharistic King of Kings, the 
Adorable Victim of Love, for whose greater honor and 
glory we gladly make every expenditure. This is the 
motive which prompts our sacrifice. This is the main- 
spring of all Catholic action in Cathedral and Church 
building, so little understood, so much misunderstood 
by the non-Catholic world. Therefore it is that, like 
David, *we have vowed a vow to the God of Jacob.^ 
'If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house, if 
I shall go up to the bed where I lie; if I shall give 
sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, or rest 
to my temples, until I find out a place for the Lord, 
a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.' " 

Dean Joseph M. Flynn, of the Cathedral Collecting 
Committee, reported that Monsignori J. A. Sheppard 
and Charles J. Kelly and himself had "visited 1,400 
families and secured donations from about 400;" that 
"the sum of |5,000 each had been contributed by 
John F. Shanley and James Smith, Jr., of Newark; 
1500 each from Thomas Maloney, of St. Patrick's, 
Jersey City; Patrick Farrelly, of Morristown, (since 
deceased — the Author) ; and James McGuire, of 
Elizabeth;" that "the balance of subscriptions was 
made up principally of flOO each." 

Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor delivered the closing 
address, for a verbatim report of which the author is 



164 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

indebted to Mgr. Flynn's history. The address 
evidences the Bishop's determination and earnest- 
ness of purpose, not alone to walk in the footprints 
of his illustrious predecessors, but to still further 
advance the cause of Catholicity in the Newark See 
to which he has been called and which he wisely 
governs. Within the confines of his jurisdiction not 
a discordant note is heard ; peace reigns supreme ; the 
Keverend Clergy and the laity work in harmony ; and 
may these blessings last ^^ad multus annosF^ 

THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP'S ORATION. 

"Gentlemen : — I thank you one and all for your presence here 
this evening and for your kind greeting. More than two years 
have elapsed since I was chosen to assume the burden and respon- 
sibilities of the Bishopric of this Diocese. During that time it has 
been my good fortune to be the recipient of many tokens of 
esteem, for which I can never be sufficiently grateful. Priests 
and people have rallied around me with a unanimity and good 
will which not only was gratifying in itself, but inspired me with 
zeal to carry on to the best of my ability the projects inaugurated 
by my predecessors for the welfare of those committed to my 
Pastoral care. 

"On various occasions I have met the assembled clergy and ex- 
changed views with them as to the means best adapted to advance 
the cause of religion in this portion of the Lord's vineyard. But 
not until to-night have I enjoyed the opportunity of coming face 
to face with the representative laymen of the Diocese, though 
never for a moment did I lose sight of the fact that it was my 
duty, as I knew it would be a pleasure, to bring them together 
and to address them, as I have the honor to do this evening. 
With sentiments, then, of sincere admiration for your steadfast 
loyalty to your faith and of heartful gratitude for the important 
share you have borne in building up the Diocese and making it 
what it is to-day, I greet you. Gentlemen, and beg to express my 
cordial good wishes toward you all, and through you toward all 
the laymen of the Diocese. It is peculiarly fitting that we should 
thus assemble at this time when we are commemorating an event 
which for fifty years has exercised a profound inllucnce on the 
history of religion in this State. Half a century ago Catholics in 
New Jersey were few, poor, and despised. To-day they number 



165 



CP^^^TB^r^^^^T^TTT^ 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



nearly 400,CKX>, and are reckoned by friend and foe as among the 
most virtuous, prosperous, and highly respected citizens of the com- 
munity. 

*'When we inquire into the causes of our progress, we may 
safely conclude that our rapid advance has been due in a great 
measure to the unity of thought and action produced by the erec- 
tion of the See of Newark and the organization of our religious 
forces and capabilities consequent on the formation of the new 
Diocese. My predecessors were men of more than ordinary ability 
and learning — Bishops Bayley, Corrigan, and Wigger — and they 
were upheld and assisted in their endeavors by as zealous and de- 
voted a band of Qergy as ever adorned the history of the Church. 
But while conscious of their own lofty aims and of the integrity 
of their motives in advancing the cause of God and religion, they — 
both Prelates and Priests — would be the first to declare if they were 
here to-night that their labors, heroic and self-sacrificing as they 
were, would have been futile had it not been for the constant, 
unremitting, and whole-souled cooperation of the loyal and generous 
la>Tnen, who in spite of difficulty and discouragement seconded every 
effort of the Qergy, and by their financial aid enabled them to 
bring to a successful issue what otherwise would have remained a 
sublime but vain ideal. 

"To the laity it may seem at times that they have not been 
accorded their full share of credit for the progress of which we are 
so justly proud and for which we are so deeply grateful to God. 
But you may feel assured that in the heart of every Priest and 
Bishop there is a deep and abiding sentiment of appreciation for 
their efforts, and a keen realization of the fact that without their 
cooperation the success we have achieved would have been 
impossible. Nor do I wish to imply that it is merely by their 
generous donations that the laity have fostered the progress of 
religion. Far more than by such opportune aid, they have advanced 
the cause of the Church by the nobility and virtue of their lives, 
affording a practical proof of the power of our faith to influence 
the lives of men for good, to maintain and uplift the moral 
standards of society, and thus to promote the true welfare of both 
Church and State. It is my fond hope that during the years of 
my administration the Clergy will continue to receive at your hands 
the same loyal support you have accorded them in the past. And 
it is particularly gratifying to me personally to, know that you have 
responded so generously to the appeal which I felt obliged to 
address to you during the present year. The great work which 
now engrosses our attention is the erection of the new Cathedral, 



166 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



which is to serve as a fitting embodiment of our united faith and 
zeal, and as a centre from which the blessings of Episcopal guidance 
may radiate to every portion of the Diocese. 

"Not until the local needs of the various Parishes had been 
supplied was this undertaking begun. To my predecessor the past 
was the best guarantee for the future, and it inspired him with 
the design of completing the equipment of the Diocese and supply- 
ing one of its essential needs by building a Cathedral. He trusted 
implicitly in the faith and generosity of a people who had never 
been called upon in vain to sacrifice temporal possessions for the 
interests of religion. The noble response which you made to my 
appeal proves the accuracy of this estimate, and it has placed me 
under a debt of obligation to you all, for which I take advantage 
of this opportunity to express my profound gratitude. You have 
performed a service of permanent value to the Church and you have 
materially lessened the weight of a heavy burden. In my own 
name and in the name of the Committee who represented me, I thank 
you from my heart. Our present difficulties have been successfully 
surmounted and our great Diocesan undertaking need not be 
interrupted. Years may elapse before it is brought to completion, 
but yours will be the honor of having come to the rescue at a 
critical moment and of having saved us from the dishonor of 
discontinuing even for a time an enterprise so important and so 
necessary for the Diocese. 

"As we look into the future, our prospects seem radiant with 
hope. If with the meagre resources of the past we have been 
able to advance with such rapid strides, what may we not antici- 
pate when the chief obstacles have been overcome and we enter 
upon a second half-century with a thoroughly organized Diocese 
and a numerous, devoted and united Clergy and people? In point 
of material equipment our task has been almost accomplished. 
Our Churches, Schools, and Institutions of Charity are sufficient 
to supply your needs for many years to come, and their financial 
condition is such as to warrant us in the belief that within 
a brief period they will be comparatively free from debt. The path 
of our progress in the future will be in the direction of intellectual, 
moral, and spiritual development. Our growth in numbers is certain 
to continue, and the constant influx of immigrants from Catholic 
lands will augment our ranks if only we can control the education 
of the rising generation. It is to this end that we must direct our 
most strenuous exertions. Our Catholic Schools must be maintained 
and defended by every means in our power. They are our most 
precious treasure, to be preserved, strengthened, and brought to the 



167 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



highest plane of perfection. Even should we continue to be sub- 
jected to the necessity of paying for two sets of schools, one 
of which we cannot conscientiously make use of for our children, 
we must not rest until every Catholic child has an opportunity of 
receiving the priceless benefits of a thorough Christian education. 
To support, improve, and extend our Catholic schools, academies, 
and colleges will doubtless be the chief aim of our endeavors during 
the next fifty years. Of our siKcess no reasonable man can doubt, 
for if God is with us who will stand against us? But in this as 
in all other efforts to promote the glory of God and the salvation of 
souls, your earnest, active cooperation will be required and I am 
sure it will not be lacking. When the Centenary of our Diocese 
will be celebrated, it will be recorded as a matter of just pride 
and glory that in this all-important work of Christian education 
the clergy have been loyally upheld and supported, as they have 
been during the past fifty years, by the generous, zealous, and self- 
sacrificing laymen of the Diocese of Newark. 

"Once more I thank you for your presence here this evening, 
and I assure you that to me one of the most pleasant memories of 
our Jubilee will be the recollection of your cordial greeting, and the 
proof you have evinced of the intimate bonds of friendship and 
good will which unite the laity of the Diocese with their Clergy and 
Bishop." 






168 




Edward Garrigan, Trustee 



CHAPTER XXXV 
"A Perpetual and Inviolable Secrecy" 

In 1813, a case was tried before the Court of 
General Sessions in New York City — presided over by 
the Mayor, DeWitt Clinton, who afterward became 
Governor of the Empire State, and Kecorder Josiah 
Ogden Hoffman. A man named Phillips and his 
wife were indicted for a misdemeanor, in receiving 
stolen goods, the property of James Keating. Before 
the trial Keating had received restitution; and he 
was brought into Court to discover the circumstances 
of the recovery of the property. He showed much 
unwillingness to answer, and he was threatened with 
imprisonment. It was his duty, he was admonished, 
to reveal the whole truth, and the duty of the 
Magistrate to insist on his revealing it and enforce 
obedience to the law. He then declared that he had 
received restitution of his effects from the hands of 
his Pastor, Rev. Anthony Kohlmann, S. J., Eector of 
St. Peter's Church, Barclay street, and Administrator 
of the Diocese. A summons was issued to the Priest 
to appear at the police office with which he promptly 
comi)lied. Being questioned touching the persons 
from whom he received restitution. Father Kohlmann 
excused himself from making such disclosure, on the 
ground that his knowledges was gained under the seal 
of Confession. The case was then sent to the Grand 
Jury. Before this body the Priest, in respectful terms, 



169 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHNS CHURCH 

declined answerin*^. I'pon other testimony a formal 
indictment was drawn against two negroes as princi- 
pals, and against Phillips and his wife as receivers. 
The case being called, the Rev. Anthony Kohlmann 
was cited as a witness. He was sworn and questioned 
touching the return of the property in question. He 
entreated to be excused and offered his reasons for 
declining to answer: 

'*\Vere I summoned to give evidence as a private individual (in 
which capacity I declare most solemnly I know nothing relative 
to the case before the Court) and to testify from those ordinary 
sources of information from which the witnesses present have 
derived theirs, I should not for a moment hesitate, and should even 
deem it a duty of conscience to declare whatever knowledge I 
have. * * * But if called upon to testify in quality of a Minister 
of a Sacrament, in which my God Himself has enjoined on me a 
perpetual and inviolable secrecy, I must declare to this honorable 
Court that I cannot, I must not answer any question that has a 
bearing on the restitution in question; and that it "would he my duty 
to. prefer instantaneous death or any temporal misfortune rather 
than disclose the name of the penitent in question. For were I to 
act otherwise I should be a traitor to my Church, to my Sacred 
Ministry and to my God. In fine, I should render myself liable to 
eternal damnation:'' 

After giving a statement of the principles of the 
Catholic Religion upon which rest the inviolability 
of the Sacrament of Penance, of which Confession 
is an essential part. Father Kohlmann went on to 
declare : 

"If I should so far forget my Sacred Ministry and become so 
abandoned as to reveal, either directly or indirectly, any part of 
what has been entrusted to me in the sacred Tribunal of Penance, 
the penalties to which I should thereby subject myself would be 
these: 

"i. I should forever degrade myself in the eye of the Catholic 
Church, and I hesitate not to say in the eye of every man of sound 
principle. The world would justly esteem me as a base and 
unworthy wretch, guilty of the most heinous prevarication a Priest 
can possibly perpetrate, in breaking through the most sacred laws 
of his God, of nature and of his Church. 



170 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



"2. According to the Canons of the Catholic Church, I should 
be divested of my sacerdotal character, replaced in the condition of 
a layman, and forever disabled from exercising any of my ecclesias- 
tical functions. 

"3. Conformably to the same Canons, I should deserve to be 
lodged in close confinement, shut up between four walls to do pen- 
ance during the remainder of my life. 

"4. Agreeably to the dictates of my conscience, I should render 
myself guilty, by such a disclosure, of everlasting punishment in 
the life to come." 

The closing argument on behalf of Father Kohl- 
mann was made by William Sampson, one of the 
Irish refugees following the Eebellion of 1798. 
Another Irish exile, Thomas Addis Emmett, who was 
to have appeared in the case for the Priest, was pre- 
vented by an important engagement in another Court. 
Both were Protestants. 

Mr. Gardiner, attorney for the prosecution, held 
^^that punishment cannot take place if witnesses are 
exempt from testifying to their knowledge of crimes. 
And by consequence that a tenet which makes it a 
religious duty to conceal this knowledge, thus neces- 
sary to the public safety, however it may be seriously 
believed by its professors, is inconsistent with the 
public loelfare/^ 

Special interest attaches to the decision of the 
Court, which was given by Mayor DeWitt Clinton : 

"The question is whether a Roman Catholic Church Priest shall be 
compelled to disclose what he has received in Confession, in violation 
of his conscience, of his clerical engagements and of the Canons 
of his Church, and with a certainty of being stripped of his sacred 
functions and cut off from religious communion and social inter- 
course with the denomination to which he belongs. There can be 
no doubt that the witness does consider that his answering on this 
occasion would be such a high-handed offense against religion that 
it would expose him to punishment in a fuluro state, and it must 
be conceded by all that it would subject him to privations and 
disgrace in this world. It is true that he would not bo obnoxious 



171 



V ■vJt^.-.J, ■ v l ,4^.. l^ 



HISTORY Of ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



to criminal punishment, but the reason why he is excused where he 
would be liable to such punishment applies with greater force to this 
case, where his sufferings would be aggravated by the compunctious 
visitings of a wounded conscience and the gloomy perspective of a 
dreadful hereafter. Although he would not lose an estate, or 
conpromit of a civil right, yet he would be deprived of his only means 
of support and subsistence, and although he would not confess 
a crime or acknowledge his infamy, yet he would act an offense 
against high Heaven, and seal his disgrace in the presence of his 
assembled friends, and to the affliction of a bereaved Church and 
a weeping congregation. It cannot, therefore, for a moment be 
believed that the just and mild principles of the Common Law would 
place the witness in such a dreadful predicament, in such a horrible 
dilemma, between perjury and false swearing. If he tells the truth, 
he violates his ecclesiastical oath; if he prevaricates, he violates 
his judicial oath. Whether he lies or whether he testifies the truth, 
he is wicked, and it is impossible for him to act without acting 
against the laws of rectitude and the light of conscience. The only 
course is for the Court to declare that he shall not testify or act 
at all. And a Court prescribing a different course must be governed 
by feelings and views very different from those which enter into 
the composition of a just and enlightened tribunal, that looks with 
a propitious ej'e upon the religious feeli'ngs of mankind, and which 
dispenses with an equal hand the universal and immutable elements 
of justice. * * * But this is a great constitutional question 
which must not be decided by the maxims of the Common Law, but 
by the principles of our Government. Let us now look at it upon 
more elevated ground — upon the ground of the Constitution, of the 
social compact, and of Civil and Religious Liberty. Religion is an 
affair betzL'Ccn God and man, and not betzceen man and man. The 
laws which regulate it must emanate from the Supreme Being, not 
from human institutions. It is essential to the free exercise of a 
religion that its ordinances should be administered — that its cere- 
monies as well as its essentials should be protected. The Sacraments 
of a religion are its most important elements. We have but two in 
the Protestant Church — Baptism and the Lord's Supper — and they 
are considered the seals of the covenant of grace. Suppose that 
a decision of this Court, or a law of the State should prevent the 
administration of one or both of these Sacraments, would not the 
Constitution be violated and the freedom of religion be infringed? 
Secrecy is of the essence of Penance. The sinner will not confess, 
nor will the Priest receive his confession, if the veil of secrecy is 
removed. To decide that the minister shall promulgate what he 



172 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



receives in Confession is to declare that there shall be no Penance, 
and this important branch of the Roman Catholic religion would 
be thus annihilated. It has been contended that the provision of 
the Constitution which speaks of practices inconsistent with the 
peace or safety of the State excludes this case from the protection 
of the Constitution and authorizes this tribunal to coerce the 
witness. In order to sustain this position it must be clearly made 
out that the concealment observed in the Sacrament of Penance 
is a practice inconsistent with the peace and safety of the State. The 
language of the Constitution is emphatic and striking. It speaks of 
acts of licentiousness, of practices inconsistent with the tranquility 
and safety of the State. It has reference to something actually, 
not negatively, injurious — to acts committed, not to acts omitted; 
offenses of a deep dye and of an extensively injurious nature. 
It would be stretching it on the rack to say that it can possibly 
contemplate the forbearance of a Roman Catholic Priest to testify 
what he has received in Confession, or that it could ever consider 
the safety of the community involved in this question. To assert 
this as the genuine meaning of the Constitution would be to mock 

THE UNDERSTANDING AND TO RENDER THE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE A 

MERE ILLUSION. It would be to destroy the enacting clause of the 
proviso and to render the exception broader than the rule, to subvert 
all the principles of sound reasoning and overthrow all the convic- 
tions of common sense. Although we differ from the witness and 
his brethren in our religious creed, yet we have no reason to question 
the purity of their motives or to impeach their good conduct as 
citizens. They are protected by the laws and Constitution of this 
country in the full and free exercise of their religion, and this Court 
can never countenance or authorize the application of insult to their 
Faith or of torture to their conscience." 




173 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

The Rapid Progress of Catholicity 

Pope Pius IX., of blessed memory, erected New 
York into an Archiepiscopal Diocese, July 19th, 1850, 
with Boston, Hartford, Albany and Buffalo as Suff- 
ragan Sees. When the Dioceses of Albany and Buffalo 
were created in 1847, the Diocese of New York liad one 
hundred and twenty-four priests, and in 1853, when 
Brooklyn and Newark were created Sees, New Y^ork 
Archdiocese had one hundred and thirteen priests. 
Archbishop Hughes received the Pallium from Pope 
Pius IX. on April 3d, 1851 ; and it was on October 
30th, 1853, that the great Archbishop, (on the occa- 
sion of the Consecration of Right Rev. John Loughlin, 
Bishop of Brooklyn, the Right Rev. James Roosevelt 
Bayley, Bishop of Newark, and the Right Rev. Louis 
de Goesbriand, Bishop of Burlington, Vt.), in the 
course of the Consecration Sermon, compared the 
rapid progress made by the Church with its humble 
beginning. Said he: ^'Many of you remember when 
there was no Bishop in New York, and no great motive 
for a Bishop coming here. ♦ * * What were the 
Catholics at that time? It was, I believe, in 1816, 
through the greater part of New Jersey, and the whole 
of New York there were supposed to be from 10,000 to 
10,000 poor and scattered foreigners; yet they were 
too many to be neglected. Hov: many were the Priests 
to assist and support the Bishop? Onlij three. Time 



174 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



passed on. What was then so insignificant a 
Bishopric is now a Metropolitan See; and however 
unworthy the occupant of that See, he will not on that 
account restrain an expression of his pride, at least 
his great religious joy, at perceiving within the past 
seven years four illustrious Sees, offshoots from the 
primitive one established in New York in 1808. There 
has been a similar change in the Diocese of Boston, 
so that there are now nine Bishops in a region where 
about six years ago there were but two." When 
Bishop Dubois took possession of his See in Novem- 
ber, 1826, there were only eight churches, eighteen 
Priests and 185,000 souls in the Diocese. In New 
York city alone there were only three churches. 

The Catholic Directory for 1852 shows that there 
were 77 churches, 7 chapels and about 60 stations in 
the Archdiocese of New York, with 102 clergymen on 
missions and 20 otherwise employed; 1 seminary, 
30 clerical students, 3 literary institutions for young 
men, 5 literary institutions for young ladies, 1 hospital 
and 4 orphan asylums. The Catholic population was 
270,000. When the New York Diocese was created it 
extended over 50,000 square miles* ; but in 1847, by the 
erection of Albany and Buffalo into Sees, the area of 
the New York Diocese was reduced to about 8,000 
square miles. The 41,896 square miles composing 
the original area of the Albany and Buffalo Sees have 
since been divided, and where only two Dioceses were 
then, there are now five — the Sees of Rochester, 
Ogdensburg and Syracuse having been created. 

In 1852 the x\lbany See had 82 churches with 10 in 
progress, 62 Priests on missions, 50 stations visited by 
Clergymen, 12 ecclesiastical students, 4 institutions 
under the Sisters of Charity, and a Catholic popula- 

♦The Now Jersey part of the original Diocese Is excluded in these figures. 



175 



BTSVERS^ 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

lion of 80,000. The late Cardinal McCloskey was 
then Bishop of Albany. 

The Diocese of Buffalo in 1852 had 7 churches 
(mostly frame), 58 Priests, 1 ecclesiastical seminary 
under the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 1 college, 2 
female academies, 3 orphan asylums. 

There were only 15 resident Priests in the New 
Jersey part of the Archdiocese of New York in 
1852. They were Rev. John Curoe, St. PauTs (evi- 
dently a misnomer of the Almanac), St. Peter's, Belle- 
ville; Rev. John Callan, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 
Boonton, and St. Mary's, Dover (church not dedi- 
cated) ; Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, St. Vincent de 
Paul, Madison, and St. Mary's, Morristown; Rev. 
Patrick Moran, St. John's Newark; Rev. Louis D. 
Senez, St. Patrick's, Newark; Rev. A. Balleis, O. S. B., 
St. Mary's, Newark; Rev. John Rogers, St. Peter's, 
New Brunswick — visited occasionally by a German 
Priest from St. Francis, New York city ; Rev. Thomas 
Quinn, Paterson — also visited occasionally by a 
German Priest from St. Francis; Rev. Patrick 
McCarthy, Perth Amboy and Rahway; Rev. James 
McDonough, St. Bernard's, Somerville and Plainfield 
— a German Priest likewise visited Somerville occa- 
sionally from St. Nicholas', New York; Rev. John 
Scollard, St. Paul's, Princeton, and he visited Cran- 
berry, Mercer County, once a mouth; Rev. Isaac P. 
Howell, St. Mary's, Elizabethtown, Essex County — 
visited also once a month by a German Priest from St. 
Nicholas' ; Rev. Anthony Cauvin, Our Lady of Mercy, 
West Hoboken, and English neighborhood; Rev. John 
Kelly, St. Peter's, Jersey City; Rev. M. Madden, Red 
Bank and South Amboy; Macopin (German) was 
visited once a month bv a Priest from the Church of 



176 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

the Most Holy Kedeemer, New York; and Stony Hill 
was attended every month by a Priest from the 
Church of St. Nicholas', New York. 

According to the Official CatJiolic Directory for 
1908, the Catholic population of New York State, 
with the section of New Jersey originally part of the 
Diocese of New York, is now approximately 3,500,000, 
with 1 Archbishop, 9 Bishops, 1 Mitred Abbott, 
1,942 Churches, 330 chapels, 219 stations without 
Churches, 2,535 Priests, 11 Theological Seminaries, 
about 300,000 young people under Catholic instruc- 
tion, and about 700 Parochial Schools, besides 
Colleges and other institutions of learning. 

The See of Newark has 1 Bishop; 1 Mitred Abbot; 
232 Secular Priests; 75 Priests of Keligious Orders; 
156 Churches with resident Priests; 26 Mission 
Churches; 15 Stations; 1 Seminary for Secular 
Clergy; 14 Clerical Students; 3 Seminaries for 
Religious Orders with 30 students; 4 Colleges and 
Academies for boys; 19 Academies for 3^oung ladies; 
107 Parishes with Parochial Schools — about 49,000 
pupils; 8 Orphan Asylums with 1,155 orphans; 4 
Industrial and Reform Schools, with 840 inmates; 2 
Protectories for boys — 174 inmates; 8 Hospitals; 2 
Homes for the Aged ; 3 other Charitable Institutions. 
The number of young people under Catholic care is 
about 55,000 and the Catholic population is stated at 
about 360,000. 

The religious communities of men in the Diocese 
are 15enedictine Fathers (St. Mary's Abbey) — St. 
Mary's Church and Abbey, St. P>enedict's College, St. 
Benedict's Church, NeAvark, and St. Henry's Church, 
Elizabeth; Carmelite Fathers (American Province) — 
Englewood; Dominican Fathers (Eastern Province) 



177 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



— Newark; Franciscan Fathers (Paterson, N. J.) — 
Butler and Paterson; Franciscan Fathers (Syra- 
cuse) — Iloboken; Jesuit Fathers (the New York- 
Maryhmd Province) — St. Peter's Church and College, 
Jersey City; Passionist Fathers (West Hoboken) — 
West Hoboken; Fathers of the Pious Society of ^fis- 
sions, Newark; Alexian Brothers (Chicago, 111.) — 
Alexian Hospital, Elizabeth; Christian Brothers 
(Ammendale, Md.) — St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral 
School, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Orange. 
The communities of religious women are Sisters of 
St. Benedict (Ridgley, ^Id.) ; Sisters of St. Benedict 
(Elizabeth) ; Sisters of Charity (Convent Station) — 
Motherhouse, Academy and Preparatory School, Con- 
vent Station; Cathedral, St. Joseph's, St. Michael's, 
St. James, St. Aloysius, St. Rose of Lima, St. 
Antoninus, St. Bridget, St. Columba, Sacred 
Heart Schools, St. Mary's and St. Vincent's Acade- 
mies, Newark; Arlington, Belleville, Bloomfield, 
Chatham, Dover, East Orange; (3) Elizabeth; Engle- 
wood, Hackensack, Harrison, Hoboken, St. Aloysius 
Academy and nine Schools, St. Michael's Orphan 
Asylum, Jersey City; Kearny, Madison, Montclair, 
Morristown, Orange, Passaic; Academy, Orphan 
Asylum, Hospitals and five Schools in Paterson; 
Plainfield; House of I*rovidence, Kidgewood; Orphan 
Asylum, Industrial and Our Lady's Schools, South 
Orange; Summit, Union Hill and West Hoboken. 
The Sisters of Christian Charity, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 
teach in St. Augustine's School, Newark, St. Michael's 
School, Elizabeth, and St. Nicholas' School, Jersey 
City; Sisters of St. Francis (Mt. Loretto, Staten 
Island) — Orange; Sisters of Charity (Gray Nuns 
of Montreal, Canada) — Hospital at Morristown; 



178 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Kosary — West 
Hoboken; Sisters of St. Dominic (Jersey City) — 
Motherhouse, Academy, St. John's, St. Boniface's and 
St. Paul's Schools, Jersey City; St. Ann's School, 
Newark, Boonton, Dover, Caldwell, Orange, (2) 
Eahway and West Hoboken; Sisters of St. Dominic 
(New York city) — Academy, Elizabeth, Newark, 
Paterson, Passaic and Weehawken; Sisters of St. 
Dominic (Contemplation) — Newark; Sisters of St. 
Francis (Syracuse, N. Y.) — St. James Hospital, 
Newark, and Hoboken; Sisters of the Poor of St. 
Francis (Hartwell, Ohio) — St. MichaeFs Hospital, 
Newark; hospitals in Hoboken and Jersey City; 
Missionary Sisters of St. Francis (Peekskill) — 
Butler, Paterson, Union Hill, West New York 
and Shady Side; Sisters of the Good Shepherd 
(New York Province) — Newark; Sisters of St. 
Joseph, of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia — St. John's 
Parochial School, Newark, Bayonne and Orange; 
School Sisters of Notre Dame (Baltimore) — St. 
Peter's Asylum and School, Newark, and Fort Lee, 
Irvington and Short Hills; Sisters of St. Joseph of 
Peace (Jersey City) — Novitiate, St. Peter's Orphan 
Asylum, Home for Girls, St. Mary's Home, Home for 
the Blind, School for the Blind, Jersey City; Engle- 
wood; Little Sisters of the Poor, Newark and Pater- 
son; Felician Sisters O. S. F., (Doyle, New York), 
Newark, Jersey City, Bayonne and Passaic ; Sisters of 
the Sorrowful Mother (Rome, Italy) — Denville; 
Pallotin Sisters of Charity, Newark; Missionary 
Sisters of the Sacred Heart (New York) — Orphan 
Asylum, Arlington; Newark; Franciscan Sisters of 
the Immaculate Conception (Uoiiie, Italy) — elersey 
City and West Hoboken; Baptistine Sisters (Italy), 



179 



^STTCTBTESTTrr 



T-TT^TTTT 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 



St. Lucy's, Newark; and the Bernardine Sisters — 
St. Stephen's Paterson. 

The See of Trenton was created July 15th, 1S81. It 
comprises fourteen Counties: Athmtic, I)urling:ton, 
Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunter- 
don, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, 
Somerset and Warren — an area of 5,756 square miles. 
The Right Rev. Michael Joseph O'Farrell, D. D., was 
Consecrated the first Bishop November 1st, 1881. He 
was a most zealous worker and labored with Apostolic 
ardor in cherishing, fostering and conserving the 
seeds sown by the illustrious Bishop Bayley and his 
successor, the late Most Rev. Michael A. Corrigan. 
Bishop O'Farrell died April 2d, 1894, and was suc- 
ceeded by the Right Rev. James A. McFaul, D. D., 
LL. D., who was consecrated in St. Mary's Cathedral 
October 18th, 1894. 

The work so happily begun and promoted by his 
predecessors, is being successfully prosecuted by 
Bishop McFaul. Catholicity in his See is keeping 
pace with its progress throughout the United States. 
In the Diocese of Trenton there are 152 Secular 
Priests; 23 Priests of religious orders; 110 Churches 
with resident Priests; 3 Churches in course of 
erection; 40 Mission Churches; 97 stations; 372 
religious women including novices and postulants; 
1 college of religious order with 40 students; 6 
academies for young ladies, with 350 pupils; Parishes 
with Parochial Schools, 40 — pupils, 11,629; Sunday 
Schools, 150; Sunday school teachers, 945; Sunday 
school pupils, 20,469; orphan asylums, 2, with 300 
orphans; hospitals, 3; the number of patients treated 
during the year 1907, was 5.268; Day nursery, 1 — 
number of children, 65; homes for aged, 2 — inmates 



180 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



during the year, 80 ; baptisms, 6,282 ; marriages, 1,708 ; 
burials, 2,296; Catholic population about 132,277. 
There are twelve Religious Communities of women — 
including the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of 
Charity, Gray Nuns, Dominican Sisters of the Per- 
petual Rosary, Sisters of St. Dominic, School Sisters 
of Notre Dame, Sisters of Mercy, Mission Helpers, 
Sisters of St. Francis, Sisters of the Third Order 
of St. Francis and Franciscan Sisters of Christian 
Charity. Of the religious communities of men, there 
are Dominican Fathers, Franciscans (Minor Con- 
ventuals), Priests of the Congregation of the Mission, 
Fathers of the Pious Missions, Brothers of the Sacred 
Heart Novitiate, Fathers of the Holy Ghost, and 
Brothers of the Christian Schools. 

The Official Catholic Directory for 1852 gives a 
"summary of Catholicity in the United States." The 
table of figures is so arranged as to exhibit at a glance 
the statistics of each Diocese and also of each 
Ecclesiastical Province. There were then 6 Arch- 
bishops, 26 Bishops, 1385 Priests, 1411 Churches and 
681 other Stations — distributed among 34 Dioceses 
and 2 Vicariates-Apostolic. "During the past year 
there was an accession of 1 Archbishop, 1 Bishop and 
114 Priests.'' The Catholic population, exclusive of the 
Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Sees of Boston, 
Galveston and St. Paul and the Indian Territory, for 
which no figures were quoted, numbered 1,600,000 ; but 
estimating, as the compiler of the Directory did, 
tlie following populations: St. Louis Archdiocese, 
1)0,000; See of Boston, 250,000; that of Galveston, 
35,000; tluit of St. l>aul, 2,500; ami tliat of the 
Indian Territory, 2,500; tlie total number of 
Catholics in the United States fifty-seven years ago 



181 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



ai)i)r()ximiito(l 1,980,000. The number of Ecclesias- 
tical Institutions, according to the Directory, was 34; 
Clerical Students, 421; Male Religious Institutions, 
49; Literary Institutions for Young Men, 47; Female 
Religious Institutions, 87; Female Academies, 100; 
Charitable Institutions, 113. When we compare these 
statistics witli the following summary taken from the 
Official CathoVic Direct or y for 1908 — what a grand 
object lesson of the growth of Catholicity! What 
marvellous progi*ess will another half a century 
bring forth: 

There were in the United States on January 1st, 
1908, 13 Archbishops; 90 Bishops; 11,490 Secular 
Clergy, 4,009 Regular Clergy— a total of 15,655 ; 8,408 
Churches with resident Priests, 4,105 Missions with 
Churches — total Churches, 12,513; 84 Seminaries 
with 5,009 students; 200 Colleges for boys; 697 Acade- 
mies for girls; 4,443 Parishes with schools, and 1,136,- 
906 children in attendance; 272 Orphan Asylums, with 
42,597 orphans; 1,054 Charitable Institutions; total 
Catholic children in Catholic institutions, 1,310,300; 
Catholic population, as recently stated by Bishop 
McFaul, of the See of Trenton, 17,000,000. 




182 




Dr. James Elliott 



m^ 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

Catholicity and Science Considered 

Perhaps more than at any previous period this age 
of the world is distinguished by its love of knowledge. 
At what time was science so generally, so earnestly 
and so advantageously cultivated? None will pretend 
that mankind has as yet even made the conquest of 
all science; but greater progress is made and greater 
results achieved. Was there ever a period when the 
pursuit of knowledge was held to be so honorable, or 
where its votaries were so universally encouraged and 
crowned with rewards? That science, above all, as 
difficult in its acquirement as it is important in its 
results — the science of man — is now more than ever 
an object of study; and with good reason, assuredly, 
for is it not the groundwork of political science, the 
science of government, upon which depends the happi- 
ness of nations? Now, who in past ages, as well as 
at the present time, have shown themselves the friends 
of science! None more so than the Roman Pontitfs; 
deny this, and not only pages and volumes but all 
history since the dawn of the Christian era must be 
blotted out. 

While it is not disputed that the Chief Pastors of 
the Catholic Church have in all ages of their long 
history adorned their liigh station by great talents and 
learning, some enemies of tlie Pa])acy say that ''these 
treasures of genius and knowledge they have reserved 



is;5 



^ ' . .J .' ;, 



rrrSI 



IIISTORV OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



for themselves — have kept llieir light under a bushel; 
and in respect to learning," it is asked, ''what 
has humanity, what has civilization to thank them 
for?'' It is indeed true that letters were for a long 
time the exclusive possession of the Popes and of the 
Clergy. lUit this by no means shows that they took 
no pains to disseminate knowledge — to instruct man- 
kind. In their endeavors to enlighten the world, they 
met with formidable opposition. Custom, opinion, 
prejudice — everything was against them. War and 
pleasure engaged, in turns, the time and the thoughts 
of men. They could not afford to be idle! And the 
noble leisure of learning was in their estimation idle- 
ness! With exceptions sufficiently numerous to show 
that the Clerical Order had no w^ish to make a 
monopoly of knowledge, the study of letters, the pur- 
suit of science, was left almost entirely to the care of 
the Clergy. Meanwhile the Christian Religion, which 
was gaining ground so rapidly, could not be diffused 
among men, and deeply rooted in their minds, without 
communicating along with its more precious spiritual 
gifts some portion of the outward garb in which it 
necessarily clothed itself, and without which it was 
impossible that it should reach the mind. It was not 
indeed a matter of absolute necessity that the Apostles 
of the New Dispensation should be endowed with 
eloquence; and yet how often were they not so? How 
often from the days St. Paul (who although he pro- 
fessed not to have come on his mission to mankind 
"with the persuasive words of human wisdom," was, 
nevertheless, in an eminent degree, possessed of that 
powerful eloquence whicli moves the soul to its 
deptlis), have there not been accomplished orators 
in the Church? And whilst, like Paul announcing 



184 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



truth to Governor Felix and King Agrippa, they 
preached with more than the power of human 
language to a rude and unbelieving world, they 
could not fail to impart some idea of that more refined 
and noble literature which arose so early together 
with the sublime Eeligion of which it is designed to 
be the handmaid. 

The preachers of Catholicity as they conversed with 
men, not only taught them the Christian religion, but 
in like manner also "the humanities." But as this 
was only an incidental teaching — and of incalculable 
less importance than that to which it ministered — 
public schools and universities were founded, in which 
all branches of letters and of science were taught, not 
only to those who were destined to hold the sacred 
office of the Priesthood and to fulfill the high duties 
of Apostolic teachers, but to all who chose to come 
to quench their thirst for knowledge at these great, 
and pure, and never failing fountains. But as time 
advanced, these temples of learning were more and 
more frequented ; and from their ever open portals was 
constantly pouring forth a stream of truth which, in 
due time, renewed the face of the world, causing the 
stern and unconquered warrior even to sigh for the 
happy time when he too could share the repose, the 
elegance and the honors of a learned life. 

Educate, instruct, enlighten is now the device of 
every civilized people. A nation cannot be more 
grievously insulted than by asserting that it is well 
pleased to remain in ignorance and takes no pains 
to educate its people; and yet, among what people can 
such views as these lay claim to antiquity? The U^arn- 
ing and civilization of ancient Ivoine once swe])t away, 
ignorance everywhere prevailed, and to such an 



186 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



extent that iiieu knew not tliat they were ignorant. 
Christian civilization liad already done battle for 
many centuries with the barbarism it found in the 
world, when even in the higher orders of society it 
was still the privilege of rank to be ignorant. The 
great and mighty were above learning, as they were 
by their rank above the rest of men; and simply 
because they were potent personages, they claimed 
exemption from the task of learning to read and 
write. That expiring barbarism should have clung to 
ignorance as its last hope need not astonish us; but 
it is indeed surprising that the Catholic Church and 
her Popes and Heirarchy should have been accused of 
fostering ignorance and even of exerting their great 
influence to retard the work of education, the 
march of intellect, the development of the human 
mind. If such were the case, how strangely have the 
Popes and Heirarchy misunderstood the true interests 
of the Catholic Church? Who does not know how 
favorable knowledge is to the Catholic religion? No 
sooner is that religion announced than men versed in 
all the learning of their time make haste to pay it 
homage and proclaim its truth to mankind. A genera- 
tion has not yet passed away w^hen not a few among 
the votaries of science become not only its ardent 
admirers but its most fervent disciples. Who was 
that Paul whom ^'zeal consumed?" Evidently a man 
possessed of great knowledge. That he was so his 
very enemies bore witness when they declared that 
"much learning had made him mad." All were ''mad," 
in the estimation of the vulgar, who in those days 
embraced the Religion of the Cross. No reputation of 
learning could save them from the stigma; and yet 
the learned, in defiance of the scotf of ignorance, press 



186 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

around the banner of Catholicity. The physician 
Luke, the statesman of Athens, Dionysius, are fol- 
lowed by many highly educated men whose minds 
were already prepared and adapted by science for the 
reception of that truth which contains within itself 
the knowledge of all things — whether of this w^orld or 
of that which is to come. 

The Catholic Church is the repository of all truth 
destined for man to know in order to fulfil the purpose 
of his creation; and it would be an error to suppose 
that true science could be opposed to revealed truth. 
All false systems of religion in past times have invaria- 
bly fallen before the light of true science. Such men 
as Socrates and Plato rejected the vulgar supersti- 
tions of their age. They held up the lamp of science 
to expose them; and false religion, panic struck, put 
Socrates to death. All history is the witness that 
whatever is falsb, whether in religion, philosophy or 
politics, must abhor the presence of true science. In 
modern times the sects that have accused the Roman 
Catholic Church of fostering ignorance have shown an 
instinctive dread of knowledge. The great Anglican 
sect has actually forbidden the diffusion of letters. 
During the palmy days of this sect was it not penal 
in Ireland to teach even the alphabet? Was not any 
Priest or schoolmaster who dared so to teach treated 
pretty much in the same way as Socrates was by the 
Athenian mob? In Protestant England, knowledge 
was, as regarded tlie great body of tlie people, 
proscribed. It was the idea of the timc^- — and the True 
Religion was not at hand to correct the error — that 
it was unsuitable to educate tlie h)wer classes. These 
remained in ignorance whilst science^ ke])t its court in 
the two great Universities of the land. Science 



187 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 



delights to be the handmaid of the True Religion; and 
whilst all erroneous systems necessarily grow dim 
and vanish in its presence, that Kelii^non which alone 
is the one true revelation from on high only shines the 
brighter in the light which true science throws around 
it. And thus it has appeared in the eyes of many of 
the most learned men of those celebrated Universities 
in which the lamp of science had never ceased to burn, 
although tliat of True Faith had in an evil hour been 
utterly extinguished. The Catholic Church has no 
reason to dread knowledge. An eminent Scottish 
Presbyterian writer, Mr. Laing, in his ^'Notes of a 
Traveller," says: ^'The Popish Clergy have in reality 
less to lose by the progress of education than our own 
Scotch CIcryy. Education is not only not repressed 
hut is encouraged in the Popish Church, and is a 
mighty iiistrument in its hands and ably used. It is 
by their own advance and not by keeping back the 
advance of the people that the Popi^^h priests of the 
present day seek to keep ahead of the intellectual 
progress of the community. In every street in Rome, 
for instance, there are, at short distances, public 
primary schools for the education of the children of 
the lower and middle classes. *Rome, with a popula- 
tion of 158,078 souls, has 372 i)ublic i>rimary schools, 
with 482 teachers and 14,099 cliildren attending 
them. Has Edinburgh so many public schools for the 
instruction of those classes? I doubt it. Berlin, with 
a population double that of Rome, has only 2G4 
schools. Rome has also her University, with an 
average attendance of 660 students; and the Papal 
States, with a population of two and a half millions, 
contain seven Universities. Prussia, with a popula- 
tion of fourteen millions, has only seven. The 

•This comparison was made in 1837. 



K 



188 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



statistical fact that Kome has above a hundred schools 
more than Berlin, for a population little more than 
half that of Berlin, puts to flight a world of humbug. 
It is asked what is taught to the people of Rome by 
all these schools? Precisely what is taught at Berlin 
— reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, languages, 
religious doctrine of some sort.'' 

In the face of these facts obfuscated indeed must 
be the mind that would undertake to maintain that 
the Papal Church is behind the age as regards educa- 
tion. Astonishing to relate ! the facts recorded by Mr. 
Laing existed anterior to the time when the Church 
was robbed of her temporalities. 

The sublime mission of the Church is to Christian- 
ize the world. Without instruction this mighty work 
could not be accomplished. The more progress made 
in knowledge, the fewer the difficulties with which 
the Church will have to contend. True Religion is as 
much impeded by ignorance as by the corruption of 
mankind. The eminent Protestant historian. Baron 
MacCauley says: 

"We often hear it said that the world is con- 
stantly becoming more and more enlightened, and 
that the enlightenment must be favorable to 
Protestantism, and unfavorable to * Catholicism, 
We wish that we could think so. But we see 
great reason to doubt whether this is a well- 
founded expectation. We see that during the 

*"CalhoIici.sm'' is a solf-oontrndlctory term, n sort of fiction wliicli sliould 
not 1)0 ai)i)lii'(l to tlie One True Universal rhnrch, whose doctrines and 
teachings are "the same yesterday, to-day and to-morrow." and within 
whose fold Mm is neltlier countenanced nor tolerat(>d. Trotestant writers 
may be pardoned for making such application, ('atholic writers, however, 
should avoid tlie use of the word, even thouirh Trot est ant compilers of lexi- 
cons mny define Catholicism. "Adherence to the IJoman Catholic Church." 
and "rniversnllty of the orthodox faith of the whole church." Instead of 
"Catholicism," let (^atholics employ the term Catholicity - a word wlilch 
ppecltically (>xpresses the universality which Is one of the dlstin,u;ulshin,£j 
marlcs of the ()n(> 'l'ru(> Church, "the pillar and the >;round of truth." 
with whom her Divine Founder promised to "abide all days." ami that 



189 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 

last two hundred and fifty years the human 
mind has been, in the highest degree, active; that it 
has made great advances in every branch of natural 
philosophy; that it has produced innumerable inven- 
tions, tending to promote the convenience of life; that 
medicine, surgery, chemistry, engineering, have been 
very greatly improved; that government, police and 
law have been improved though not to so great an 
extent as the physical sciences. Yet, we see that, dur- 
ing these two hundred and fifty years, Protestantism 
has made no conquests worth sjjeaking of. ]S'ay, we 
believe that, as far as there has been change, that 
change has, on the whole, been in favor of the Church 
of Kome. We cannot, therefore, feel confident that 
the progress of knowledge will necessarily be fatal to 
a system which has, to say the least, stood its ground, 
in spite of the immense progress made by the human 
race in knowledge since the time of Queen Elizabeth." 




•*the gates of hell shall not prerall against her." Hence a term expreseElYe 

of t«m L» a misnomer in its application to the Catholic Church. What is 
the meaning of ism t Do^s it not signify a decayed branch cut off from 
the living trunk of the Tree of Truth? Therefore, if Catholics use 
Catholicism, is there not danger that some one of our separated brethren 
mii:ht be unintentionally strtrngthened in the erroneous ideas so often 
expressi-d. that '•one church is as good as another" : that "a!! religions 
are rlike" ; that "there is no differ^-nce between Ca^' .nd Prote-g- 

tantUm" ; that "CallioliciMm and High and Low Ejji ;. Prc^by- 

tvrianijtm, ilelhcilifri and all the other denomlnati":- .ad to the 

same plac^ but by different routes"? The Ap*>stle to t::- "itr-'iles advised 
Timothy to 'avoid the profane novelty of words" ; and this admonition by 
St. I'aul wa«! not only intended for his disciple and the faithful of that 
period, but that It should be respected during all ages. — The Author, 



190 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

Catholicity is Essentially Liberal 

The Catholic Church is not that stern despotism 
over the minds of men which its enemies unceasingly 
represent it to be. It cannot be otherwise than liberal. 
As there is no system of rule or constitution in the 
world that has endured so long, so there is none that 
can claim to be so perfect. Many governments have 
followed in its track and copied and appropriated 
what appeared to them good in its Constitution, but 
none has as yet surpassed or even equalled it in 
excellence. An institution that was not in every way 
admirably adapted to the wants of mankind — that was 
not by its organization and its teaching calculated to 
meet the real wishes and aspirations of the human 
mind — could not, as it has done, have existed and 
flourished throughout so many centuries without any 
diminution of its original power. Its enemies even 
acknowledge that it exhibits not as yet "any sign 
which indicates that the term of its long dominion is 
approaching." "It saw," quoth Baron MacCauley, "the 
commencement of all the governments, and all the 
ecclesiastical establishments, that now exist in the 
world ; and we feel no assurance that it is not destined 
to see the end of them all. It was great and respected 
before the Saxon had set foot in Britain, before tlie 
French liad passed tlie Bhine, wlien Crecian eloquence 
still flourished at Autioch, when idols were still wor- 



191 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



shipped in the temple of Mecca, and it may exist in 
undiminished vigor when some traveller from New 
Zealand shall, in the midst of a vast solitude, take his 
stand on a broken arch of London Bridge to sketch 
the ruins of St. Paul's." When there was question of 
reorganizing society after the effete despotism of 
Pagan Kome had passed away, men found in the 
Church a model of government than which nothing 
more excellent could be devised. ''The Christian 
Councils," says another distinguished Protestant 
writer (Sir Archibald Alison — History of Europe, 
Vol. II.), "were the first examples of representative 
assemblies. There were united the whole Roman 
world. There a Priesthood which embraced the civ- 
ilized earth assembled by means of delegates to delib- 
erate on the affairs of the Universal Church. When 
Europe revived, it adopted the same model. Every 
nation by degrees borrowed the customs of the Church 
— then the sole repository of the traditions of civiliza- 
tion. It was the clergy who instructed them in the 
admirable system which flourished in the Councils of 
Nice, Sardis and Byzantium, centuries before it was 
heard of in the Western world, and which did not 
rise in the 'Woods of Germany' but in the Catacombs 
of Rome during the sufferings of the Primitive 
Christians." 

And yet, the enemies of Catholicity, violative of 
the Divine Command, bear false witness — accuse the 
Catholic Church of fostering ignorance! Not only 
that, but Catholics are poor benighted people whose 
intellect is enslaved by wily priest-craft! Second 
only to the protection of Divine Providence is the 
excellence of the Constitution of the Church in 
securing that vitality and permanency which can 



191 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



never fail to be a subject of astonishment. In an 
order of things in every way so admirable there could 
not be any narrowness of view^ — anything mean, petty 
and illiberal. Such things are repugnant to the 
genius of Catholicity. The Church is divinely 
appointed to bear witness throughout all time to 
certain truths, which it is of the highest importance 
for mankind to know. She can neither add to these 
truths nor diminish them; neither can she interpret 
them in one way today and in another way tomorrow. 
She is the witness of what has been committed to 
her keeping; and that she will always be a faithful 
witness, the WORD That deceives not is her guar- 
antee: "Behold I am with you all days," and "The 
gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church." 

But beyond the range of Revealed Truth, to which 
the Church can never cease to bear testimony, there 
is a wide field of enquiry; and, so long as the sacred 
deposit is not touched, the utmost freedom of dis- 
cussion may rightfully prevail. Why should charity 
between disputants be so urgently recommended — 
nay enjoined — if no disputation were permitted? In 
regard to manifestly essential points of doctrine, the 
belief of Christians must necessarily be one: ^^In 
necessariis iinitas.'^ But in those things that are not 
clearly a portion of that truth to which the Church 
bears unerring testimony, opinion is at liberty: ^'In 
duhiis Uhertas/^ Who shall say that there is not thus 
presented to the human mind, with the full sanction 
of that authority which is not infrequently accused 
of wishing to enchain it, a field of investigation 
sufliciently extensive for the exercise of all its 
faculties? But, in all disputations, as stated, charity 
is not only urged but enjoined : "/n omnibus caritas/' 



193 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

^.'outrasts Avitli other institutions, highly favorable 
to the Catholic Church, might here be established. 
Discarding many fabulous and exploded accounts of 
imaginary persecutions, a few well authenticated 
facts might be produced whicli would exhibit, in no 
amiable light, the heads and founders of opposing 
systems. Usurpations are necessarily tyrannical — 
are often cruel. Since Geneva herself now deplores 
the errors of her Calvin, it were unnecessary here to 
bring into parallel his cruelty on the one hand, and 
on the other the moderation, the kindness even of a 
tribunal of the Catholic Church, which, while it 
declared to be contrary to the testimony of all ages 
the doctrines, spared the person of the unfortunate 
man who afterward became the victim of the stern 
lieresiarch. 




194 




Rev. Daniel G. Durning 
Firsl person born in New Jersey elevated to the Priesthood 



CHAPTER XXXIX 

Some Distinguished Newark Lawyers 

When Newark became a city in 1836, she had many 
distinguished citizens of extraordinary legal ability, 
including Chief Justice Hornblower, Frederick T. 
Frelinghuysen, (father of Frederick Frelinghuysen, 
President of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance 
Company), Governor William Pennington, A. C. M. 
Pennington, Oliver Halstead (afterward Vice- 
Chancellor), John Whitehead, Charles L. C. Gifford, 
Amzi Armstrong, Jabez Hayes, Amzi Dodd (who 
became Vice-Chancellor of New Jersey and afterward 
the second President of the Mutual Benefit Life 
Insurance Company — succeeding Lewis C. Grover), 
William K. McDonald (father of James C. Mc- 
Donald), Archer Gifford (father of Phillip A. 
Gilford), and Joseph P. Bradley, who was appointed 
an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme 
Court. 

Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen filled the 
unexpired term of Senator Wright in the United 
States Senate, and was a candidate to succeed him- 
self, but the Legislature being of an opposite political 
complexion, a Democrat was chosen. President 
Ulysses S. Grant, without consulting former Senator 
Frelinghuysen, nominated him for Minister to the 
Court of St. James, and the nomination was 



195 



U.M J^I^.MJfl 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 



unanimously confirmed by the Senate without 
reference. Minister Frelinghuysen declined the 
Mission. Mr. Frelinghuysen was Attorney General 
for New Jersey for some years; and, the Legislature 
being Kepublican, he was sent back to the United 
States Senate. Afterward he became Secretary of 
State in the Administration of President Chester A. 
Arthur. 

Secretary of State Frelinghuysen, on behalf of the 
American Government, vigorously protested against 
the unwarranted confiscation of the American College 
at Kome by the Italian Government. The 
boasted free institutions of Italy to the contrary, 
the government had ignored the moral law, 
violated at pleasure individual rights, and, just as 
convenience might seem to require, changed Churches 
and religious houses, as well as sanctuaries of 
learning into stables for the cavalry and hunting 
steeds of the Savoyard dynasty. The Italian 
robbers might learn a profitable lesson from 
Mohammed the Prophet of the Sword, who commanded 
that his followers should everywhere respect places in 
which they found the people assembled for prayer. 
Not so the Savoyards. Covetous eyes were set upon 
the American College at Rome; it was marked 
out for confiscation and desecration, but Secretary 
of State Frelinghuysen calls halt I The American 
College is an American institution, built by American 
money and owned by American citizens ; and the prop- 
erty rights of Americans at home and abroad must 
be conserved. Hence, the Italian government was 
constrained, by force of circumstances powerless to 
control, to respect in that case the article of the 
Moral Code: "Thou Shalt Not Steal!'' 



196 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



The author had an interview with Secretary of 
State Frelinghuysen at his home in Newark in 
reference to the arrest of Editor Meaney of the New 
York Star, The editor, after an absence of thirty 
years from Ireland, returned to his native land on a 
visit to his aged mother; and, a few hours after 
landing in Queenstown, he was summarily arrested 
and cast into prison. Secretary Frelinghuysen, on 
hearing the facts in the case, said he would telegraph 
immediately to the Assistant Secretary of State at 
Washington instructing him to cable the American 
Minister at the Court of St. James. This was done, 
and within twenty-four hours the prisoner was 
liberated. 

In the early days also there were two bright young 
lawyers of great promise — Theodore Kunyon and 
Cortlandt Parker. Young Eunyon became Mayor of 
Newark, a Brigadier-General of Volunteers in the 
Civil War, Chancellor of the State of New Jersey, 
and President Grover Cleveland appointed him 
Ambassador to the Court of Berlin. General Runyon 
was the first Ambassador from the United States to 
Germany. This Nation had hitherto been represented 
by Ministers. Ambassador Runyon was held in high 
favor by the Emperor, who requested the United 
States Government to permit him to appear at Court 
wearing the uniform of his military rank — a request 
which was granted. The Ambassador died in the 
Embassy at Berlin. At his bedside were the wife 
of the Ambassador and three daughters, Mrs. INfolly 
R. riaskins, Julia I^. Runyon and Tlelen Louise Run- 
yon, the latter of whom is the wife of President E. 
Alvah Wilkinson, of Wilkinson, Gaddis & Co. The 
two sons of the Ambassador, Frederick Theodore 



197 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



Runyon and L. Chauncey Runyon were at home in 
Newark. His remains were brought home and 
interred in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Ambassador 
Runyon was a bosom friend of the late Archbishop 
Bayley and Monsignor Doane — friendships which 
lasted without friction until death. The half-tone 
picture of Bishop Bayley which is used in this work 
is taken from a portrait painted from life by Hagney 
in 1869. The original oil painting was kindly loaned 
to the author by Mrs. Clementine B. Runyon, the 
widow of the late Ambassador. 

It was in the days of Chancellor Runyon that wood 
pavement was introduced in the City of Elizabeth 
and suburbs. Elizabeth then was famous for its fine 
drives. Chancellor Runyon not infrequently availed 
himself of the privilege. One afternoon, on one of his 
outings, a cloud of mosquitoes swarmed around the 
Chancellor's carriage, and the bloodthirsty pests 
presented their bills thick and fast. Never was the 
Court of Chancery so busy. It was useless for the 
Court to demur; it would serve no purpose. The coach- 
man whipped up the horses; but the mosquitoes could 
not be shaken off. At lengtli, in slun^r desperation. 
Chancellor Runyon jumped from his carriage and 
took "legbail." It was the first time in his life that 
he tried to turn his back upon a foe. That very after- 
noon the merchants in many parts of Newark had to 
close their stores because of the mosquitoes. 

Cortlandt Parker became an eminent member of 
the American Bar. After tlie Presidential Election in 
1876, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Mr. 
Parker one of the Electoral Commissioners to 
Louisiana, to inquire into the alleged frauds upon 
the franchise. The Tilden Electors had a majority 



198 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



on the face of the returns; the State Keturning Board, 
however, because of alleged frauds, issued certificates 
to the Hayes Electors. Congress passed the Electoral 
Commission Act; and by a vote of 8 to 7 Rutherford 

B. Hayes was declared elected. Cortlandt Parker was 
tendered the German Mission by President Grant, on 
the recommendation of Senator Frelinghuysen ; but 
he declined the honor with thanks. 

William K. McDonald was born in Alexandria, Va., 
in 1807; graduated from the College of New Jersey 
(Princeton University), in 1827; read law with Adjt. 
Gen. Walter Jones, of Washington, D. C. ; was pro- 
fessor of Belles-Lettres at the Washington College, 
Pa. (now Washington and Jefferson) ; admitted 
to the Bar in 1841, and began the practice of law in 
Newark; was Clerk of the Newark Common Council 
from April, 1844, to April, 1850; a Member of the 
New Jersey General Assembly in 1856 and 1857; was 
the first State Comptroller and served from 1865 until 
1871; was a member of the Newark Board of 
Education fromi 1864 to 1866; and died April 14th, 
1871, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife was a 
daughter of the Rev. James Carnahan, D.D., Presi- 
dent of the College of New Jersey. His son, James 

C. McDonald, is a member of the legal profession and 
has made Newark his home. Like his father, he was 
graduated from Princeton University. 



199 



CHAPTER XL 

Some of the Early Settlers 

Jean Vache, a Frenchman, who came to America in 
1790 and settled in New York, was no ordinary man. 
He took a high stand among the merchants of New 
York for business ability and kindness of heart. When 
Lafayette visited the United States, Mr. Vache was a 
member of the Committee appointed to welcome the 
gallant Frenchman, who had aided this Nation in her 
struggle for Independence. He introduced his grand- 
daughter, Emily, to the distinguished guest. Lafayette 
took the child on his knee and conversed with her. 
The child afterwards became the mother of Hon. 
Thomas S. Henry of Newark, a former Judge of the 
Second District Court. In 1S27, Jean Vache came to 
Newark and affiliated with St. John's Parish. 

After Mr. Vache left New York to take up his resi- 
dence in "Newark Town," he purchased the Peppin 
farm comprising forty or fifty acres, upon which he 
afterwards lived and subsequently died. The farm 
house was located where the residence of Charles A. 
Fiecke now stands, No. 805 High street, at the 
intersection of Clinton avenue. The farm formed 
almost a jjerfect square — extending up High street, 
thence Westward, thence South to Broad street. 
What is now Clinton avenue was then a continuation 
of Broad street. Mr. Peppin owned a slave woman 
calling herself Eliza Peppin, after her master; and he 



200 




Bernard Kearney 



insisted that Eliza should be sold with the farm, and 
the woman herself was very desirous that this 
arrangement should be made. Mr. Vache was opposed 
upon principle to slavery; but he finally yielded, and 
neither the master nor the slave ever regretted the 
purchase. When Eliza died, she was buried in the 
same burial plot with other members of the family in 
Rosedale Cemetery, Orange ; and to-day her headstone, 
with inscription in most affectionate terms expressing 
the love of her master's family, can be seen. 

At the left of the main entrance to St. John's 
Church a tablet hangs upon the wall inscribed : 

IN MEMORIAM. 

JOHN VACHE 

and 

ANNA, HIS WIFE, 

whose remains 

LIE BENEATH THIS CHURCH. 

Requiescant in Pace! 

At the right of entrance is another tablet inscribed: 

Your Charity 

Pray for the Soul 

of the 

Very Rev. PATRICK MORAN, 

First Vicar-General of this Diocese 

and 

Pastor of this Church 

for 

Thirty-four Years. 

Died July 25th, 1866, 

Aged 66 Years. 
Requiescat in Pace! 

Micliael Donnelly was among tlie early Irish set- 
tlers. He landed in New York January Und, 1805, and 
walked to Perth Amboy where lie found employment, 
but soon after came on foot to Kewark. He was the 
great grandfather of former Alderman John H. 
Donnelly of the Fifth Ward, and his hrolher Thomas 



201 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



J. Donnellj, who resides at No. 222 Lafayette Street. 
Early iu the Nineteenth Century, Jolin Hawthorn, 
a North of Ireland Presbyterian, came to Newark. In 
the land of his birth he was a man of property. In 
the Kobert Emmett rising, the British authorities 
supposing, because he was a Protestant and loyal 
to the Crown, called him out to serve in the 
Yeomanry against his countrymen. But he said 
to his wife: ^'I will never wear a red coat for the 
English Government and go a butchering my 
countrymen.'' He sold his property, escaped to 
America and made Newark his home. Robert Reilly 
came here soon afterward. He was a Catholic, and 
some of his ancestors were hanged from the shafts of 
their drays because of their love of country and 
liberty. Among others who settled in Newark before 

1825, was Charles Burning. Mai'tin M. Rowan, 
another early settler, was a first cousin of Lord 
Hamilton Rowan, an Irish Nationalist who was tried 
for high treason, pleaded his own cause and was 
acquitted. Martin Rowan was six months old when 
his father died. His mother married again — a man 
named Burke; and when young Rowan, Avho was the 
sole heir to his father's estate, was eighteen years old 
he went to England and remained in London until 

1826, w^hen he came to America, settled in Newark and 
carried on the furrier business. 

Other settlers were John Sherlock, Christopher 
Rourke, Thomas Garland, Daniel Elliott, Arthur 
and William Sanders, Robert Seefrage, John 
Gillespie, Thomas Clark, Thomas Brannan, Edward 
C. Quinn, the Gillespies, Timothy Bestick (afterwards 
Clerk of St. John's Church), John Kelly, Michael 
O'Connor, the Bruens, the Crocketts, the Dennys, the 



202 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Carrs, the Hays, the Scotts, Michael Eowe, Charles 
Bogan, father of Eev, Bernard Moran Bogan; the 
Farrells, John and Hugh McConnell, John McColgan, 
John Holland, (father of the late Kev. Michael J. 
Holland who died while Rector of St. Columba's 
Church) ; William Downs, Patrick Matthews, 
Maurice Fitzgerald, John Neil, Robert and Thomas 
Garland, Patrick McEnroe, (father of Christopher 
McEnroe) ; John Francis Hoppen, father of Mrs. 
Hattersley (wife of William Francis Hattersley, 
organist of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral). 

The early Catholics of Belleville contributed 
largely towards the erection of old St. John's in 
1827-8. Among the active participants were Nicholas 
Duffy, John Reed, Patrick Reed, Michael Brannan, 
James Murtagh, Robert Murtagh, William Moran, 
Michael Kearney, Patrick Kearney, Robert Mullin, 
John Campbell, Michael Gorman, M. J. Doyle and 
brothers, M. Geacen, Thomas Dunn, Dennis Dunn, 
Thomas Oldham, James McDermott, the Butlers, the 
Murphys, Fitzgeralds, McGoverns, Boyles, Breslins, 
the Adamses, the Hylands, and Daniel Elliott, who 
had moved from Newark and built the first brick 
house erected in Essex County. The house still stands 
at corner of Main and William streets, Belleville. 
Peter Kehoe, (father of John F. Kehoe, President of 
the Jjisters Agricultural Chemical Company, and Mrs. 
Charles A. Catalani) was also one of the early settlers 
of Belleville. Prior to coming to New Jersey, IMr. 
Kehoe used to attend St. Peter's Church, Barclay 
street. New York. These families used to walk from 
Belleville on Sundays and Holy Days to hoar INFass 
at St. John's and return home in time for dinner. 
This practice obtained from I^'IS to the building of 



203 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

the original St. Peter's Church, on the William street 
hill, Belleville, plans for which were drawn by Father 
Moran. The father of Colonel Michael T. Barrett, 
counsellor-at-law and a former State Senator of 
New Jersey, was a Trustee of St. Peter's Church, 
Belleville, and served forty consecutive years. Michael 
Matthews, father of James J. Matthews, a master 
mason. No. 55 Third Street, this city, settled in 
Springfield in 1838, and attended Mass at Old St. 
John's, walking the entire distance to and from 
Newark. 

In Father Moran's Pastorate came Nicholas Moore, 
Charles Keilly, Kichard Kirwan, Thomas Loughlin, 
Thomas Corrigan, (father of the late Most Kev. 
Archbishop Corrigan) ; Peter Dowd, James Callery, 
Anthony Smith, Patrick Lynch, Bernard Kearney, 
Francis D. Murphy, (who was a fellow student at 
St. Mary's Emmettsburg, with Patrick Moran and 
John Hughes, when they were studying for the Priest- 
hood) ; P. G. Cox, James Hargan, James Finnegan, 
John English, Thomas English, Andrew Smith, 
Michael Phillips, James Coyle, Patrick Coy le, Patrick 
Ryan, John Ryan, B. Nerney, Timothy Pardue, James 
Dooner, Bernard Hopkins, William Melian, Michael 
Devine, John Devine, Terence Devine, James 
Dougherty, John Brush, (afterwards Judge Brush of 
Paterson), Bernard Leddy, Bernard Galligan, John 
McDevitt, Patrick Hetherton, Edward Starrs, 
William Starrs, Owen Campbell, Andrew Flood, John 
Brannigan, Bernard Russell, Peter Riche, Edward 
Plunkett, M. Fogarty, M. Dunn, William Dunn, (the 
father-in-law of Jeremiah O'Rourke), John Kearney 
(brother of Bernard), John Warren, John Keman, 
Patrick Durning, Hugh Durning, John Durning, 



204 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

James Burning, Michael Burning, Michael Deaney, 
Miles Quinn, John Quinn, Frank Corbett and his 
brother John Corbett and the Ledwiths who came 
to Newark in 1834 — all of whom contributed to the 
first enlargement of St. John's Church. Frank 
Corbett was a contractor, and he dug the cellar for 
the first gas house in Newark. He was the father of 
the present Chief of Police, Michael Corbett, and his 
brother William. Michael J. Ledwith, a brother of 
David Ledwith, in after years served as Trustee of 
St. John's. On July 1st, 1850, he became a partner 
of Marcus L, Ward, who near the close of the Civil 
War became Governor of New Jersey and was known 
as the "War Governor." Marcus L. Ward & Co. 
were soap manufacturers and carried on business at 
No. 154 Market street, (now No. 200), until 18G9, 
when Governor Ward retired and disposed of his 
interests to the junior partner, who continued the 
business. Michael J. Ledwith in after years was 
appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. 

The first St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Newark 
was held March 17th, 1834, when seventy-six members 
of the Hibernian Provident Society assisted at Mass 
and paraded, and in tlie evening held a banquet in 
the South Ward Hotel, which was kept by John 
O'Donnell, on the site of the present Universalist 
Church of the Redeemer, Broad and Hill streets. 
Pierson's Directory estimates the Irish population in 
1836 to be 6,000; but because of scarcity of work, 
incident to the "hard times," many left the Town. 



205 



CHAPTER XLI 

Influx of Irish Immigrants 

In the 40's the Irish population increased rapidly; 
many of them formed independent militarv organiza- 
tions later and were members of the Volunteer Fire 
Department. Dr. James Elliott was a member of 
Columbian Engine Company, No. 6, for many years. 
Only healthy, athletic and sober young men were 
admitted to the Fire Companies in the eaily days; 
abstinence from intoxicating drinks was one of the 
standing rules. Many of those who came here at an 
earlier date prospered as merchants and tradesmen. 
Christopher Nugent (father of the wife of former 
United States Senator Smith i, his brother James 
• the father of City Counsel James R. Nugent », and 
the Doughertys became leading morocco leather 
manufacturers; the Sanders, the Brannons and 
McFarlands had large factories and the sons of Irish- 
men were apprenticed in all trades. Irishmen 
formed the Washington Erin Guards and the 
Montgomery Guards; and when the Civil War broke 
out the Irish and their descendants were potent 
factors in the community. Charles Bogan i father of 
the Rev. Bernard M. Bogan » ; Thomas McNair, Peter 
Grace and Francis Quinn were prosperous bakers. 
The Shanleys i Michael and his sons Bernard M. and 
John F.), the Smiths (James Smith, Sr., and his son 
James Smith, Jr. I . the Morrises and the Clarks and 



206 




Si. John's Rectory 



wm^m 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

Thomas O'Connor (father of Eight Kev. John J. 
O'Connor, Bishop of Newark), led as contractors and 
builders; Christopher Nugent was one of the largest 
leather manufacturers in the country. 

John Dwyer was a patent leather manufacturer. 
He was a native of Adair, County Limerick, and 
emigrated to America in 1847, landing in Boston 
where he learned the leather trade. In 1851, he came 
to Newark and entered the employ of T. P. Howell as 
General Superintendent, holding that position until 
1865, when he resigned to engage in business for 
himself. Mr. Dwyer was one of the oldest members 
of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral; one of the founders 
of the Young Men's Catholic Association; served as 
Alderman and Police Commissioner; was a Director 
in the Firemen's Insurance Company and the 
Security Savings Bank; and he was known to have 
generously contributed to St. John's, St. Mary's, St. 
Joseph's and St. Michael's Churches, as well as 
St. Michael's Hospital and St. Mary's Orphan Asylum. 

Lewis C. Grover, the first President of the Mutual 
Benefit Life Insurance Company, of Newark, N. J., 
was one of the best judges of men whom the autlior 
has ever known. In 1874, Ave met at Schooley's 
Mountain. He said: ^^There are two young men in 
Newark who will make their mark in life. Tliey are 
the brainiest men I have ever met; and conversing 
with them I was astounded at the profound thought 
and keen, sound judgment, which they exercised in 
the consideration of any subject. Both will be rich 
men some day. As financiers they are capable even 
now of managing any of the large institutions. I 
refer to Bernard M. Shanley and James Smith, Jr." 
The opinion expressed by Mr. Grover o\cv Ihirty-two 



20: 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

years ago has been realized. Bernard M. Shanley was 
indeed a brainy man. Grace Bayley, his first wife, 
was a niece of the late Archbishop Bayley. Former 
United States Senator James Smith, Jr., is recognizwl 
as one of the foremost citizens of the Nation. He 
is a credit to his race and an honor to his country. 

During the Repeal agitation by Daniel O'Connell 
in Ireland, meetings of sympathy were held in old 
St. John's School House, No. 168 Plane street, and 
many citizens, who had not hitherto spoken of their 
Irish lineage, gave the movement their sympathy. 
Americans "to the manner born" — men of liberal 
spirit — attended the meetings, to hear orators like 
Charles O'Connor, "the Nestor of the American Bar ;" 
James T. Brady, the great criminal lawyer; John T. 
Doyle, Eugene A. Casserly (afterwards United States 
Senator from California), S. Mullville, of New York; 
George M. Dallas, of Philadelphia; Thomas Mooney, 
the historian; James Van Buren and Robert Tyler 
(sons of Presidents of the United States). Some of 
the most prominent citizens subscribed to the Repeal 
Fund, among them Governor William Pennington, 
Chief Justice Hornblower, A. M. C. Pennington and 
William Wright, father of Col. Edward H. Wright. 
John Ledwith, father of former Judge Michael J. 
Led with, was President of the Newark Repeal 
Association until it was disbanded. 



208 



CHAPTER XLII 

Religious Discussions 

Many of the Irish Catholics were clever disputants. 
They read books in St. John's Library on points of 
controversy so as to be able to explain to their 
Protestant fellow citizens the true Catholic doctrines. 
Religious discussions were courteously conducted. 
John Ledwith, a courteous and pleasant man, had a 
fluent tongue and a splendid memory. He had 
Catholic and Irish history at the tip of his tongue; 
antagonists were quickly routed if they misstated 
facts. Thomas Farrell ( father of Mrs. Arthur Devine, 
Mrs. McGrath, Mrs. McCree and Mrs. Grace) was the 
best equipped laymen in the controversial circle. It 
was said of him by American friends : "you had better 
let Tom alone, for you cannot gain a triumph by 
tackling him." He knew Milner's Points of Contro- 
versy by heart, and the Discussions between Maguire 
and Gregg, and Pope and Maguire, as well as 
Cobbett's Reformation, were stored in his mind. 
Bernard Kearney was sarcastic, witty and thoroughly 
informed. John Grafton, of St. John's Church 
Choir, was another able disputant. Timothy Bostick 
(Clerk of the Parish) was posted on religious points. 
John Brannigan, John Sherlock, Charles Durning, 
James and Loughlin Carlen, Andrew Flood, Brian 
Brady and the Finnegans (Pliilip, Michael, Peler, 
Thomas and James) were able controversialists. 



509 



CHAPTER XLIII 

History of the Cross in Newark 

The late Dr. James Elliott, on Mav 3(1, 1893, 
lectured in the Catholic Institute, New street — his 
theme being : "Recollections of the Cross in Newark." 
He first quoted Father Crassett, "You are a Christian 
only by the Cross; and it may be said that you are 
not even that if you entertain a horror of it or live 
without it/' and then said : 

"To Christians of all denominations, the history of 
the Cross in Newark should be an interesting theme; 
but to the Catholic it is especially of great interest. 
The latter may remember a time when all other Chris- 
tian Churches looked upon with horror the sacred 
emblem of man's redemption, and regarded all who 
venerated the Cross as grossly superstitious and wor- 
shippers of idols. The Cross was an object of contempt 
to the entire non-Catholic population of 'Newark 
Town' when it was first erected upon old St. John's 
Church in Mulberry street in 1S2S. 

"About that time a poor but ever faithful class of 
immigrants appeared upon our shores. They belonged 
to the laboring and industrial cla.^ses and haile<l from 
Ireland where their forefathers had suffered loss of 
property, and where thousands had suffered loss of 
life in defence of the Cross. Many of these poor and 
humble people came to ^Newark Town.' They worked 
in the factories and shops, in the fields and on farms. 



210 







,\'\\h— ^<x-s^ 



Convent of the Sislers of St. Joseph 



HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH 



Stalwart, hardy and industrious, they were potent 
factors in assisting citizens ^to the manor born' in 
the struggle for worldly possessions and the accumula- 
tion of wealth. The Morris Canal had just been pro- 
jected, and scores of men were employed to prosecute 
the enterprise. Who so ready with pick and shovel 
and spade than these hardy immigrants? Who so 
able to conquer all impediments and to conduct the 
work to a successful completion? Then there was no 
railroad to bring wood and coal to market, and the 
Morris Canal became a source of great wealth to its 
projectors. 

'^A little later, the New Jersey Railroad to Phila- 
delphia was projected, and the Irish laborer was in 
great demand — the swamps were filled in, the 
Bergen rocks rent into fragments, and a rail- 
road constructed. Many a poor man was killed 
or maimed for life by the premature blast 
or other mishap incidental to hazardous enter- 
prises. There was no giant powder or dynamite 
in those days, and the great work was necessarily 
slow; but time and labor triumph at length, and the 
iron horse starts forth in his historical career. But 
what had all this to do with the Cross in Newark? 
It had a great deal. The poor immigrants were most 
of them Catholics. Many had their families ; and 
wives and mothers brought with them from the ^Isle 
of Saints' their Rosaries with crosses. They did not 
hide their Beads under a bushel or even under a 
shawl, but carried tliem openly in their hands. The 
crosscis on prayer books and rosaries became objects 
of curiosity to the next door neighbor, and many 
questions would be asked. The beads and crosses were 
ridiculed; ^Papist,' ^idolator,' Svorshippers of wood 



211 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

and brass' were common expressions; ^rank super- 
stition,' 'vile priestcraft/ 'contemptible nonsense' were 
utterances heard on all sides. 

"At present," added Dr. Elliott, "when the Cross 
has a place somewhere on or about the clothing, or 
the stationery of every Christian in the community, 
it is surprising to think that even later than 1850 
such marked hatred towards the emblem of man's 
redemption should have existed. As Catholics we can 
readily understand how this marked aversion to the 
Cross originated. The circulation of English litera- 
ture throughout the country, the histories in the 
schools, school books and magazines — all alike, where 
the Catholic Faith was discussed or the Irish charac- 
ter considered, went to misrepresent and ridicule 
both. The mind of the American people had been for 
years poisoned by calumnies. The Church dogmas 
were stigmatized and her most sacred offices ridiculed. 
I have seen the Holy Mass thus mimicked by a clergy- 
man in one of our most prominent churches. The 
altar was fitted up in imitation of Catholic service, 
the mimicry going on amidst the applause of a 
delighted audience; and when the celebrant would 
turn to the people saying Dominus vobis cum and 
make the sign of the cross, the clapping of hands and 
the boisterous laughter would indicate how much the 
sacrilege was enjoyed. 

"The annual return of St. Patrick's Day would 
bring out the stuffed Paddy with a cross of straw on 
his breast and a string of potatoes to represent the 
Rosary. Most of the citizens in those days honestly 
believed that there existed no Catholics but the Irish I 
The stuffed Paddies would be hung on some promi- 
nent place — on a large building or a high tree. On 



212 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

one memorable occasion, just after the erection of 
St. John's, early in the morning of March 17th, 
fastened securely to the Cross on the top of the 
Church, was witnessed at the dawning of day a life- 
size Q^gj of a Paddy, with potato Eosary and straw 
cross. The night and the morning were tempestuous 
— a very equinoctial storm, with rain, sleet and high 
wind. The Church gable ran up to an acute angle 
and was very high. How the efflgy could have been 
put up in such a hurricane was a puzzle. No ladder 
that could be found at first would reach up to it, and 
how to remove the obnoxious effigy seemed beyond 
understanding. At length Moses Sayre, a master 
mason and builder, was waited upon, and he loaned 
a ladder, the longest in town; and when it was well 
on in the forenoon the obnoxious figure was removed. 
It was never discovered who put it up, although dili- 
gent enquiry was made for months afterwards. At 
this time we had no resident Pastor. 

"As evidence of the prevailing spirit of the time, it 
may be stated that many persons called upon would 
not lend a ladder to remove the figure. They thought 
the joke too good to be abruptly terminated — some- 
thing to laugh over during the day. All honor to the 
memory of Moses Sayre. He was not one of these 
persons. This kind of sport was enjoyed for a number 
of years by our non-Catholic friends and might have 
continued much longer but Father Moran for weeks 
before March 17th in each recurring year strongly 
advised against taking any notice of or paying any 
attention to the ^stuffed Paddies.' He used say: 
^These well meaning but exuberant young fellows 
will soon cease of their playful habit, if you will just 
cease to notice them; keep cool; don't lose your 



213 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHX'S CHURCH 



toiiipor; don't got in a passion; only laugh at them 
and their folly.- This advice was very generally 
observed, with Iiapi)y r^^snlts. 

"What of the Cross of to-day? Answer ye who 
witness it at every turn on the street artistically made 
of many materials of varied and unique mechanism — 
worked upon vestments, upon book marks, stamped 
upon Bibles and various articles of jt^welry, embel- 
lished with gems of diamonds and pearls to decorate 
the person, pendants from the ears and sparkling on 
the bosom of the belle, until one is reminded of 
Byron's lines : 

'On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore. 
That Jews might kiss or Infidels adore.' 

"A Cross was placed upon the House of Prayer 
Episcopal Church when the new spire was erected in 
1853. Much discussion then occupied the attention of 
the public through the pulpit and press — each finally 
agreeing in vindication of the symbol of man's redemp- 
tion. Behold now a new generation on the stage I 
^lauy fathers and mothers are called away ! -The few 
we liked, the one we loved,' and lol the Cross is 
respected by all Christian people I It is of interest 
to arrange the dates upon which the Cross was erected 
on our Churches; and St. Peter's, Belleville, of which 
Father Moran was architect and builder, must have 
place in the enumeration. First Cross erected in 
Newark, 1828, St. John's; second, 1838, St. Peter's, 
Belleville; third, 1842, St. Mary's, Grand street; 
fourth, St. Patrick's, Washington street; fifth, 1852, 
St. John's, Orange; sixth, St. James, Lafay- 
ette street, Newark; seventh, the House of Prayer, 
Protestant Episcopal Church, Broad street.'' 

The original Cross that for twenty years was 
mounted upon the gable end of old St. John's, facing 



214 




St. John's Parochial School 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 



on Mulberry Street, was either lost or destroyed 
after it had been taken down to give place to the new 
front erected in 1846-7. It was made of Jersey 
hickory unstripped of its bark. The tree and arms 
of the Cross were respectively about five inches in 
diameter and the dimensions were seven feet by five 
feet. Certainly Father Moran would never have per- 
mitted that Cross to be taken away or destroyed. It 
had withstood the storms and tempests of twenty 
Winters and the heat of as many Summers. It was 
blessed by Father Power, acting for Bishop Dubois, 
and hence was a relic that should be preserved. 
The Rev. James Moran, replying to Dr. James 
Elliott, writes that he "remembers to have seen the 
original Cross in the garden in the rear of his uncle's 
residence;" that "it was Father Moran's intention 
to place it in a niche in the Sacristy wall." Com- 
munications with different Priests who succeeded 
Father Moran failed to disclose any further informa- 
tion as to that Cross. St. John's was the first sub- 
stantial stone edifice in New Jersey to bear aloft the 
Cross. To the Catholics of Paterson, however, is due 
the credit of erecting the first Church in the State to 
bear the Cross. All honor to the men and women of 
old St. John's of Paterson, through whose zeal and 
active faith a Church edifice was (Tect(Ml as early as 
1822. The structure was a one-story frame, tAventy- 
I^Ye feet b^^ thirty-five, with a seating ca]);icity for 
fifty persons. In 1829, the foundation of a new 
edifice in Oliver street was begun. The l)uilding was 
not completed until 1833, and prior to this dale St. 
John's in Newark had a resident Pastor. 



21,^ 



CHAPTER XLIV 

First Italian Mission in Newark 

Converting St. John's School Hall in Mulberry 
street into a temporary Chapel in ^Marcli, 1S82, was a 
timely measure inaugurated by Bishop Wigger to 
provide for the spiritual wants of the Italian people. 
The Rev. Alberigo Yitali, D. D., a zealous young 
Priest, was placed in charge. He labored earnestly. 
Referring to the opening of "The Italian Mission in 
Newark," the Newark correspondent of the ^ew 
York Freeman's Journal, under date of July 2d, 
1882, writes: "The Italians are a peculiar people, 
and the habits and customs of their native land they 
would transplant in this country; but in time they 
will learn better. They are not proverbial for gen- 
erously supporting the Church ; and some seem to 
think that they may at Tsill discharge the Priest 
w^hom the Bishop has sent to them and supplant him 
with another of their own selection. Sliortly after 
the ^lission was opened, no less than three Italian 
Priests were invited by their countrymen to come to 
Newark. These people would like to own a Church 
edifice, to do with it as they please, but they, some of 
them, will hesitate long before undertaking a proper 
share of the financial burdens." Eighteen years ago 
there were in the Diocese of Newark between 1,500 
and 1,000 Italians, as the author recalls from 
the Census of the Catholic Church which he compiled 



210 



HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

for the United States Government. What is the 
Italian population now in the City of Newark? It is 
over 40,000. Italian Parishes have been established, 
not only in Newark but elsewhere as the necessities 
require. In these Parishes there are Parochial 
Schools. Eev. Father Zuccuralli, Kector of St. Rocco, 
Rev. Father Brown, Rector of St. Philip Neri, Rev. 
Father D'Aquilla, Rector of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 
and Rev. Joseph Perotti, Rector of St. Lucy's, 
have placed their schools in charge of the Sisters 
of Charity and these are the only Italian Parishes in 
which the Sisters teach. The Italian population is 
becoming more and more Americanized. Many of 
them are prosperous business men who are respected 
by their fellow citizens. It is unfortunate, however, 
that so many of the men are so lukewarm, indifferent 
to the practices of their religion, and are seemingly 
contented to have their wives and daughters do all 
the praying. Let us hope for better things. 




217 



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